Botanical Interests Red Giant Mustard Seeds

Big, bold, maroon leaves with lime veins are as delicious as they are ornamental in the garden or a container. Excellent pickled, wilted or raw in salads, 'Red Giant's' mustard flavor intensifies in older leaves and hot weather, providing hints of horseradish. This traditional Asian green is faster growing and spicier than traditional southern mustards. Cold tolerant and bolt resistant.

Variety

Slightly savoyed, purplish-red, thick and tender leaves, in a loose head. Spicy, rich horseradish flavor intensifies with heat and as leaves get larger. 'Red Giant' can be used when very young and small or more matured. It is particularly tolerant to cold and bolting and has wide soil adaptability.

• Days to Maturity: 40 Days
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Native: Widespread, Probably Asia
• Hardiness: Frost-Tolerant Annual
• Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Plant Dimensions: 12"-24" Tall
• Attributes: Good for Containers, Heat Tolerant, Frost Tolerant

Sowing

When to Sow Outside

Recommended. 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 40°F, ideally 60°-75°F. Successive Sowings: Every 3 weeks until 10 to 12 weeks before your average first fall frost date for continuous harvest. Mild Climates: Sow in late fall through winter for cool-season harvest.

When to Start Inside

Not recommended; transplant stress can cause plants to bolt (prematurely flower).

• Days To Emerge: 5-10 Days
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
• Seed Spacing: A Group of 3 Seeds Every 4"-6"
• Row Spacing: 12"-18"
• Thinning: When 3" Tall, Thin To 1 Every 4"-6"

Growing

Harvesting

Harvest in the morning if possible. You may start harvesting leaves when they are 2" tall, as needed; remove no more than 1/3 of the plant if regrowth is desired or let plant grow to maturity and harvest entire plant. Late summer crops will last until the first hard freeze.

Specifications

• Type: Conventional Heirloom