Mustard: planting and care, description and useful properties, the best varieties

Mustard is an annual crop from the Cruciferous family. It is permissible to grow it as green manure, honey plant and oilseed. In order for the plant to develop normally and have strong immunity, it is important to observe the planting conditions. Compliance with agrotechnical rules and recommendations is also of great importance. This culture is considered very unpretentious, but requires a number of conditions.

Description of the plant

Mustard is a medium-sized annual plant up to 70 centimeters high, which is characterized by rapid growth. The culture is characterized by feathery leaves that grow on a green stem. At the same time, simple yellow flowers appear on the top of the shoot.

This plant is considered indispensable. It has the following features:

1. Fast growth and high germination rates. After harvesting and sowing free areas, mustard has time to build up a large amount of green mass. The growing season of this crop takes literally 30-45 days.
2. Minimum natural pests and diseases. Thanks to this, the culture helps to clear the soil for further crops. The wireworm is considered especially sensitive to mustard. Therefore, it is recommended to grow potatoes after green manure.
3. Honey-bearing properties. Mustard attracts bees to the plot, which do not let garden plants through.

Siderat is considered quite economical. Mustard seeds are low cost. At the same time, literally 200-400 grams of grains are required per 1 weave. The culture is distinguished by large seeds that easily crumble and do not cake. In addition, they are very comfortable to fit.

Popular varieties

Today there are several types of mustard, which differ in seed color, agricultural technology, size and shape of the plant. The following varieties are usually used as green manure:

1. White - is considered the most common type, which is undemanding to the composition of the soil. At the same time, the culture should not be planted in too acidic or marshy soil. High cold resistance makes it possible to plant a crop even in autumn. The plant reacts sharply to moisture deficiency. At the same time, growth stops and the vegetative part wilts.
2. Yellow - Highly drought tolerant. This plant is distinguished by delicate greenery, however, it is less cold-resistant. The yellow seeds are smaller. Therefore, the consumption during landing will be less.
3. Black - is considered the most heat-loving variety. Therefore, it is worth planting mustard in spring or summer. The advantage of the culture is the ability to grow in damp and swampy soil.

All these varieties perform the functions of a green manure. Therefore, you can give preference to any type of mustard. In addition, a large number of mustard varieties are currently known, which differ in terms of development and taste. On the summer cottage and at home on the windowsill, it is recommended to grow the following species:

1. Volnushka - is an early ripe variety. From the appearance of sprouts to harvesting the first harvest, a maximum of 1 month passes. Mustard is characterized by large leaves of a light green hue. The culture is distinguished by a dense rosette. Greens have excellent taste. It is worth starting harvesting after the plants reach a height of 8 centimeters. Volnushka quickly grows green. This allows you to get a good harvest.
2. Ladushka is a mid-season variety with upright foliage. In this case, the outlet reaches a diameter of 35 centimeters.This species is considered undemanding to care. It can be grown at home on a well-lit windowsill or in a summer cottage, however, in this case, it is necessary to darken the plantings.
3. Red-leaved - is an early variety that is distinguished by dark green vertical foliage of a rounded shape. It has a spicy tart taste. Such greens can be used as a side dish for meat and fish. It is often added to salads. This helps bring out the flavor of the fresh vegetables.
4. Mustang - this variety has an average ripening time. The growing season takes 35-40 days. The leaves are characterized by a compact rosette, the height of which is no more than 25 centimeters. This makes it possible to grow a crop on the windowsill. The foliage has a red-green color and large size. It has a pleasant spicy taste.
5. Vigorous - is a salad mustard, which takes 25-30 days to ripen. A characteristic feature of this variety is a pronounced spicy taste. Therefore, a vigorous culture should be grown for canning. You can also make homemade mustard from it.
6. Prima is an early variety that has a raised rosette. Its diameter does not exceed 20 centimeters. The leaves are yellow-green in color. In this case, the height of the culture is not more than 25 centimeters. The foliage has a juicy and delicate taste, which has a delicate aroma. It has hints of radish and mustard.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of mustard include the following:

• increase soil looseness, good moisture absorption;
• increased soil resistance to blowout, washout and displacement;
• weed suppression;
• increasing plant resistance to disease and pest attacks;
• attracting bees and other pollinators.

At the same time, culture has some disadvantages:

• susceptibility to diseases that are characteristic of Brassicas - these include clubroot, powdery mildew, rust;
• lignification of stems after flowering - while it is better to use juicy stems as top dressing;
• susceptibility to bird attacks - they peck at mustard seeds and can cause crop damage.

Planting instructions

For mustard cultivation to give results, you need to follow the basic recommendations for planting.

Soil selection

Culture can be grown in light sandy or sandy loamy soil, the acidity of which does not exceed 6.5. The plant normally tolerates partial shade. However, the culture grows best in the sun. In heavy or acidic soil, additional components should be added. In this case, for 1 square meter, it is recommended to use the following:

• 1 bucket of sand;
• 1.5 buckets of humus;
• 2 handfuls of dolomite flour or slaked lime.

Seed preparation

Mustard grows beautifully without additional stimulation. If you want to speed up the process of seed germination, you can make a solution of 0.6 grams of "Heteroauxin" and 1 liter of water. In this case, it is necessary to soak the planting material for 6 hours.

To prepare the site for planting, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Clear the soil from weeds and vegetable residues.
2. Introduce organic and mineral preparations. This requires the use of humus and ash or dolomite flour. For 1 square meter, it is worth taking 1-1.5 buckets of such dressings.
3. Dig the soil with a shovel. You can also use a motor cultivator for this purpose.
4. Level the soil with a rake and break up large clods of earth.

If you plan to grow a crop for greens that you plan to eat, it is recommended to organize beds.

Landing

Planting an annual plant has certain characteristics. They differ depending on the purpose of cultivation. As a green manure crop should be planted in a carpet way. To do this, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Take a handful of seeds and spread evenly over the area. It is recommended to take 1 dessert spoon of planting material per 1 square meter - approximately 4-5 grams.
2. Sprinkle crops with soil or harrow with a rake. It is important to consider that uncovered seeds germinate longer. They can be pecked by birds. In addition, grains are often carried by the wind.
3. Wash the area well with water. To do this, you need to use a watering can. Do not use a hose when doing this, as the seeds may be washed away.

If you plan to grow mustard for lettuce, it is recommended to plant it in a row. To do this, do the following:

1. Prepare the beds. In this case, you need to make furrows 2 centimeters deep.
2. Plant seeds. The interval between them should be 10 centimeters. At the same time, the row spacing is 20 centimeters.
3. Put the seeds into the ground to a maximum depth of 1 centimeter. Otherwise, the plants will germinate slowly.

As a honey plant, mustard is recommended to be planted in rows. At the same time, 12-16 kilograms of seeds should be used per 1 hectare. To protect the crop from parasites and attract pollinators, plants should be planted pointwise. This is done between the rows of the main crops.

At the same time, it is important not to grow mustard in the same garden with other representatives of the Cruciferous family - cabbage, radish, radish. These crops have common pests and suffer from the same diseases.

Aftercare

This culture is considered very hardy and has a short growth period. Therefore, she does not need specific care. With a lack of moisture, young plants are recommended to be watered. Mustard reacts sharply to a lack of fluid. Fertilization is not required. This culture itself is an excellent top dressing.

Already a month after planting, the greens can be mowed. This is required to be done when the height of the culture is 25-30 centimeters. It is important to bear in mind that overgrown mustard becomes coarser and forms seeds. When planting a crop 1.5 months before the cold weather, greens can be left uncut. This will help hold the snow and protect the ground.

Pest Control

When growing a crop, there is a risk of attack by the following pests:

• cruciferous fleas - for their destruction it is required to use the preparations "Vanteks" , "Nurel D" ;
• mustard leaf beetle - Borey or ash is used to combat these pests;
• cabbage moth – Lepidocid will help to destroy parasites;
• rapeseed sawfly - it will be possible to cope with it with the help of Boreas.

To avoid problems, it is recommended to dig up the soil in the fall and fight weeds. You also need to avoid thickening of plantings and waterlogging of the earth.

Mustard collection

Small sprouts, foliage, germinated seeds can be used as food. In most cases, the upper fragments of the culture are used. Foliage is recommended to be cut as needed, as it always remains fresh. With the simultaneous collection of shoots, they must be stored in the refrigerator. In this case, it is recommended to put the greens in a glass jar and close the lid. In this form, the product remains fresh for 2 weeks.

Useful properties

Mustard leaves bring great benefits to the body. This is due to the high content of minerals, vitamins, carotene. Young foliage includes mustard oil. Therefore, the use of greens will be an excellent alternative to liquid mustard. Fresh foliage has the functions of oncoprotectors. This is due to the fact that it contains antioxidants, which have pronounced antitumor properties. Such greens should be consumed to prevent cancer and other pathologies.

Salad mustard includes unsaturated fats, glucosinolates, omega-3 acids. Therefore, the culture has pronounced anti-inflammatory characteristics. The calorie content of 100 grams of mustard greens is only 26 kilocalories. Because this product can be part of the diet.

Mustard leaves contain a lot of vegetable fiber, which improves intestinal motility. Therefore, they can be used by people who have stomach diseases. Green leaves can be added to salads.

Advice for beginners

To grow a crop successfully, you should follow these rules:

• weed the beds when the bushes reach 5 centimeters;
• grow a crop in a jar to save space;
• plant a plant in the same container with watercress.

Mustard is a sought-after crop that can be eaten or grown as green manure. At the same time, the plant has a number of useful properties and improves he alth.

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