When to plant Mustard Greens in Subtropical Australia

Subtropical zone — applies to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Tropical · Arid.

Sow mustard greens direct across most of the year in the subtropics, from January to June and again in August to December, setting seed 5 mm deep into moist, fertile soil. This hardy, fast brassica germinates in just 4–7 days and reaches full size in 40–60 days, with cut-and-come-again leaves ready far sooner. Space plants 15–25 cm apart with rows 30–40 cm apart, or sow thickly for baby leaves. Around Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast the mild cooler months give the mildest, cleanest foliage, while warm-season sowings turn up the peppery heat. Pick young and often for salads, stir-fries and braises.

Sowing calendar — subtropical zone

Green months are your sowing window: August to June.

Growing notes

Mustard greens are a fast, forgiving leaf crop that slots easily into the subtropical garden through most of the year. They germinate quickly, grow through the mild winters and can be harvested repeatedly, making them one of the more dependable greens for coastal districts from the Gold Coast to Coffs Harbour.

The main failure mode is bolting. In warm weather, dry spells or long days, plants rush to flower and the leaves turn hot, coarse and bitter. Concentrate your main sowings in the cooler months, keep the soil evenly moist, and harvest leaves young while they are still tender. Sowing a short row every couple of weeks gives a steady supply rather than a single flush that all bolts at once.

Being a brassica, mustard greens attract caterpillars, aphids and flea beetles that pepper the leaves with holes, and slugs and snails graze seedlings after rain. Fine mesh netting over the bed is the simplest defence and keeps the foliage salad-clean. In sustained wet weather, downy mildew and leaf spot can appear, so space plants for airflow and water at the base in the morning so the leaves dry quickly.

Mustard Greens at a glance

Common questions

when to plant mustard greens in Brisbane

Sow from January to June and again from August to December, covering most of the year. The mild cooler months give the mildest leaves, while warm-season sowings grow fast but taste hotter and bolt sooner.

how do you stop mustard greens bolting

Sow mainly in the cooler months, keep the soil evenly moist, and harvest leaves young. Warmth, dry spells and long days trigger bolting, after which the leaves turn hot and bitter.

can you harvest mustard greens more than once

Yes. Treat them as cut-and-come-again: pick outer leaves while young and the centre keeps producing. Sowing thickly gives tender baby leaves, ready well before the 40–60 day full-size mark.

what makes holes in my mustard greens

Caterpillars and flea beetles are the usual cause, with slugs and snails adding to the damage after subtropical rain. Fine mesh netting over the bed keeps the leaf-eaters off and keeps the foliage clean for the kitchen.

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