Black Mustard

Black Mustard — variety description

Black Mustard (Brassica nigra) is an annual vegetable of the Cabbage family (Brassicaceae). Black mustard is one of the oldest spices known in central Europe and originates from the Mediterranean region. This is an annual herbaceous plant grown specifically for extracting its pungent seeds, which aid digestion.

The seeds, which must be removed from their husks for processing into edible mustard, come in different colours and can be dark brown, grey or black.

Black mustard seeds are used in Indian cuisine for curries, where they are usually roasted in oil to give a distinctive nutty flavour. The resulting oil is also used for culinary purposes.

However, the use of the plant as a spice and for making mustard became increasingly rare in the 20th century, as other crop varieties are better suited to mechanical harvesting and efficient processing.

Leaf mustard grows quickly and gives peppery leaves for salads and stir-fries; the seeds are used as a spice.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 98%
• Seeds per packet: 1530–2070 pcs (4 g)
• Seed origin: India
• Sowing: April and May; direct
• Harvest: August and September
• Position: sun to partial shade

When to sow Black Mustard

Black Mustard seeds are sown in April and May. Harvest in August and September. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Black Mustard

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 1 cm
• Spacing: 15–25 cm
• Germination: 3–7 days at 10–20 °C
• Position: sun to partial shade

Black mustard is fairly easy to care for and thrives in a variety of soils, but especially well in chalky ones. Sowing is done at mild temperatures in spring directly in the field. Mustard likes sunny places, grows fast and can reach up to 150 cm. tall. The seed harvest can be expected in early autumn. It is also a very good plant for feeding bees.

Sow in early spring or late summer — in hot weather it bolts. Keep the soil moist.

Harvest and use

Pick the young leaves 30–45 days after sowing.

Frequently asked questions

When should Black Mustard be sown?

The recommended sowing months are April and May. Sowing method: direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 1530–2070 seeds, pack size 4 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 98%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.