How to grow mustard greens for pickling

(VLO) I want to grow mustard greens around my house to make pickles. Please, Farmer, show me how to grow them.

Pham Thi Phuong (Ward 3, Vinh Long City)

Dear Ms. Phuong!

Growing pickled mustard greens at home is quite simple, but you also need to pay attention to some growing techniques to achieve efficiency. First of all, you need to buy mustard greens seeds from a reputable place to ensure quality.

Mustard greens do best in loose, nutrient-rich, well-drained soil, so garden soil or premixed organic soil can be used.

If you don't have a garden, you can use pots or foam boxes to grow vegetables. Pots or foam boxes need to have drainage holes to avoid waterlogging.

Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water (about 30-350C) for 4-6 hours to help the seeds germinate faster and more evenly. After soaking, sow the seeds directly into pots or foam boxes with prepared soil, about 0.5-1cm deep, cover with a thin layer of soil.

Keep a distance of about 5-7cm between seeds to give the plants room to grow. Water gently with a spray bottle to ensure the soil is moist and help the seeds germinate quickly.

Mustard greens need sunlight to grow, so place the pot in a place with direct sunlight for at least 5-6 hours a day. This vegetable needs moist soil but not soggy, so water regularly about 2 times a day in the early morning and late afternoon.

When the seedlings have grown strongly, reduce the watering frequency to once a day. After the seedlings are about 10-15cm tall, you can add diluted organic fertilizer to help the plants grow quickly.

Mustard greens can be attacked by several pests such as green worms, leaf rollers, and fungal diseases. Biological pesticides or homemade pesticides made from garlic, chili, and ginger can be used to prevent pests.

Regularly check to detect early signs of pests and treat promptly. When the mustard plant grows, prune old leaves and leaves with pests so that the plant can concentrate nutrients on growing new leaves. Make sure the vegetable growing area is always clean and airy to limit the environment for pests to grow.

After about 40-50 days from sowing, the mustard greens will reach their maximum size and can be harvested. At this time, the mustard greens are about 25-30cm tall, with thick, green leaves. You can cut the whole plant or harvest the large leaves first, leaving the plant to continue growing for a few more days.

FARMER FRIEND

Source: https://baovinhlong.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep/202412/cach-trong-cai-be-lam-dua-2bf663e/