How to Grow Spinach Mustard
Spinach Mustard
Brassica juncea var. spinachifolia
vegetableSpinach mustard is a hybrid leafy green that combines the mild, tender leaves of spinach with the nutritional profile and slight peppery notes of mustard greens. This cold-hardy Asian brassica grows quickly and produces abundant crinkled foliage ideal for fresh eating and cooking. It's an excellent cool-season crop that tolerates frost and extends the growing season in spring and fall.
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Example Spinach Mustard timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Spinach Mustard
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Spinach Mustard
Around May 27≈ 40 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Spinach Mustard dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-9, with best performance in cool seasons (spring and fall). Can be grown year-round in zones 8-9.
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Get my Spinach Mustard timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
1-2 weeksTwo cotyledons emerge, followed by the first true leaves. Plants are delicate and light green.
Keep soil consistently moist. Provide bright light to prevent leggy growth. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once first true leaves appear.
Vegetative Growth
2-3 weeksPlants develop multiple crinkled true leaves with a blue-green color. Rapid leaf expansion occurs, and the plant forms a loose rosette.
Maintain consistent moisture and moderate nitrogen fertilizer. Thin plants to final spacing if not done earlier. Mulch around plants to retain moisture.
Early Maturity
1-2 weeksPlant reaches 6-10 inches in height with abundant tender leaves suitable for harvest. Leaves have mature texture but remain mild.
Begin harvesting outer leaves while plant is still immature for maximum tenderness. Keep soil moist to encourage continued leaf production.
Full Maturity
1-2 weeksPlant reaches full size (10-14 inches) with densely packed, deeply crinkled leaves. Foliage becomes more substantial and robust.
Harvest regularly to delay bolting. If temperatures exceed 75°F, provide afternoon shade to extend harvest window.
Senescence/Bolting
Variable, 3-7 daysPlant sends up a central flower stalk and begins to turn bitter as it transitions to reproduction.
Harvest all remaining leaves before bolting is complete. Remove plant once it has bolted, as leaves become tough and bitter.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Row covers for young plants, neem oil spray, diatomaceous earth, encourage beneficial insects. Plants typically outgrow damage.
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Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), hand-picking, row covers, encourage native parasitoid wasps.
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Strong water spray, insecticidal soap, neem oil, introduce ladybugs and lacewings.
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Bt applications, row covers, crop rotation, encourage natural predators.
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and
Hand-picking, beer traps, copper barriers, diatomaceous earth, encourage ground beetles.
Uses
Fresh Salads & Cooking
CulinaryThe tender, mild leaves are excellent raw in salads, sandwiches, and wraps, or cooked like spinach in stir-fries, soups, and sautéed dishes. Young leaves are most tender and least peppery. [source]
Nutritional & Antioxidant Benefits
MedicinalSpinach mustard is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, calcium, iron, and glucosinolates—compounds with potential anti-cancer properties. The mustard component adds isothiocyanates known for anti-inflammatory effects. [source]
Preservation & Storage
CulinaryLeaves can be blanched and frozen, dehydrated, or fermented for long-term storage. The heartiness of mustard genetics makes it more shelf-stable than pure spinach. [source]
Pollinator & Predator Support
WildlifeIf allowed to flower (bolt), spinach mustard attracts pollinators and beneficial insects. The flowers also provide pollen and nectar for early-season bees and hoverflies. [source]
Quick & Economical Crop
HouseholdWith a 40-50 day maturity and continuous harvest potential, spinach mustard is ideal for succession planting and maximizes garden yield per square foot. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Begin harvesting outer leaves when plants are 4-6 inches tall, allowing the center to continue growing. Cut leaves at the base using scissors or a sharp knife, or harvest the entire plant by cutting just above soil level. Morning harvest yields crispest leaves with highest nutrient content. Regular harvesting delays bolting and encourages bushier growth. Spinach mustard can be harvested continuously over 3-4 weeks.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Spinach mustard is sometimes called 'mustard spinach' or 'tendergreen' and is especially popular in Asian cuisines, where it's a staple cool-season crop.
- 🌱 Unlike pure mustard greens, spinach mustard remains mild and tender even when mature, making it forgiving for home gardeners who miss the optimal harvest window.
- 🌱 Spinach mustard is one of the most cold-hardy leafy greens and can tolerate light frosts (down to 28°F), making it perfect for extending the season into late fall and early spring.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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