How to Grow Southern Giant Curled Mustard
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Southern Giant Curled Mustard
Brassica juncea
vegetableSouthern Giant Curled Mustard is a fast-growing, cold-hardy leafy green with large, heavily frilled and curled leaves that range from yellow-green to dark green. This Asian mustard variety is prized for its tender leaves with a mild to moderately spicy mustard flavor and is particularly popular in Southern cuisine. It thrives in cool weather and can be harvested at any stage from baby greens to full-sized leaves.
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Example Southern Giant Curled Mustard timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Southern Giant Curled Mustard
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Southern Giant Curled Mustard
Around May 27≈ 40 days after planting
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Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-10; prefers cool-season growth in spring and fall, with winter growing possible in zones 8-10
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Seed Germination
7-10 daysSeeds sprout and develop the first true leaves. Soil should be kept warm (60-70°F) and consistently moist.
Keep soil evenly moist. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once they develop first true leaves. Protect from extreme temperature fluctuations.
Seedling
2-3 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves emerge. Leaves are beginning to show the characteristic curling and frilling.
Continue consistent watering. Provide bright light if growing indoors. Begin dilute liquid fertilization every 2 weeks if needed.
Vegetative Growth
2-3 weeksRapid leaf production with increasingly curled and frilled foliage. Plant grows fuller with more stems branching from the base. Leaves are tender and flavorful.
Maintain consistent moisture and cooler temperatures (55-75°F). Feed every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Mulch around plants to retain moisture and keep roots cool.
Harvest-Ready/Mature Leaf
2-4 weeks (harvestable period)Fully developed outer leaves are large, heavily curled and frilled, with deep color. Inner leaves continue growing. Plant reaches 12-18 inches tall.
Begin harvesting outer leaves regularly to encourage continued production. Pinch off any flowering stems to keep plant in vegetative state longer. Continue watering and feeding.
Bolting/Flowering
1-2 weeks before plant declinePlant sends up a central flower stalk with yellow flowers. Leaf quality declines as energy shifts to seed production. Flavor becomes more intensely spicy and leaves may become tougher.
Once bolting begins, harvest remaining leaves and pull plant. In cool climates with succession planting, simply start new seeds. Deadhead early flowering attempts to extend harvest in cool weather.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Use row covers during vulnerable stages. Hand-pick caterpillars. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray. Encourage beneficial wasps.
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Use row covers on young plants. Apply neem oil or spinosad. Spray with insecticidal soap. Remove crop residue to eliminate overwintering sites.
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Spray with strong water stream to dislodge. Use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Apply neem oil. Encourage natural predators like ladybugs.
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Handpick at dawn or dusk. Create barriers with diatomaceous earth or copper tape. Use beer traps. Remove mulch in immediate plant area.
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Hand-pick bugs and egg clusters. Remove crop residue. Use row covers. Plant trap crops like radishes nearby.
Uses
Cooked Southern Greens
CulinarySouthern Giant Curled Mustard is a traditional ingredient in Southern soul food cuisine, typically cooked with bacon, ham hock, or salt pork as 'mustard greens.' The cooking mellows the spicy bite while the curled leaves create a tender, savory dish. [source]
Fresh Salads and Raw Preparations
CulinaryYoung, tender leaves can be used raw in salads for a peppery, slightly spicy kick. Baby greens are milder and more palatable raw than mature leaves. The striking curled texture adds visual interest to salad mixes. [source]
Nutritional and Glucosinolate Content
MedicinalLike all Brassica juncea plants, Southern Giant Curled Mustard is rich in glucosinolates—sulfur-containing compounds with potential anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. It's also high in vitamins K, A, and C, calcium, and antioxidants. [source]
Pickling and Preservation
CulinaryThe sturdy, curled leaves hold up well to pickling and fermentation processes. Pickled mustard greens are a traditional condiment in many cuisines and add tangy spice to dishes. [source]
Microgreens and Sprouts
HouseholdMustard seeds germinate quickly and produce peppery, nutrient-dense microgreens in just 7-10 days on a windowsill. These can be used as a garnish or flavor-boosting addition to dishes. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Begin harvesting baby greens at 20-30 days by pinching off outer leaves, allowing the center to continue growing. For full-sized leaves, wait 40-50 days and harvest outer leaves first, working inward. Leaves are most tender and mild when harvested in cool weather; flavor becomes stronger and leaves tougher in heat. Harvest in the morning for best quality. Continual leaf harvesting encourages the plant to produce more foliage and delays bolting. Plants can produce for 6-8 weeks with regular harvesting before bolting occurs.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Southern Giant Curled Mustard gets its distinctive name from its popularity in the American South, where it became a staple of African American and Appalachian cuisines. The 'pot likker' (the liquid in which greens are cooked) is considered both a side dish and a nutritious broth.
- 🌱 Brassica juncea is originally native to the foothills of the Himalayas and has been cultivated in Asia for thousands of years. Brown mustard varieties are still used to produce the pungent mustard condiment we know today.
- 🌱 The peppery, spicy flavor in mustard greens comes from glucosinolates, which are only released and activated when the leaves are cut, crushed, or cooked—a chemical defense mechanism the plant uses against herbivores.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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