Mizuna Prim (untreated) - Ferme de Sainte Marthe seeds

Sowing:

Sowing period: in open ground from March to September

Harvest period: spring and autumn

You can proceed with direct sowing in place or prepare seedlings that will then be installed in the garden in their final location.

Preparation of seedlings: Under shelter in early spring or in a nursery in the garden for the rest of the year (according to the recommended sowing period), sow the seeds to a depth of 1 to 2 cm (0 to 1in) in a good seed compost or a fine soil. Lightly cover with compost and remember to keep the substrate moist but not waterlogged.

When the young plants appear strong enough to be handled, transplant them into pots if necessary before transplanting them into the garden, when there is no longer any risk of frost. During planting, respect the recommended spacing for direct sowing.

Direct sowing: In properly amended and finely worked soil, make furrows about one or two centimetres deep, spaced 20 centimetres (8 inches) apart. Sow the seeds and cover them with a thin layer of fine soil. When the seedlings are well developed, thin them out, keeping only one plant every 20 centimetres (8 inches).

Cultivation:

Asian mustards are grown in the sun. It is a demanding vegetable that requires well-fertilised soil, rich in nitrogen and potassium. It is advisable to make a generous compost addition (about 3/4 kg per m2), by raking to a depth of 5 cm (2in), preferably in autumn, after having, as with any vegetable crop, well loosened the soil. It is not very tolerant of soil pH, which should be between 5.6 and 6.5. In acidic soil, it will be necessary to gradually raise this pH by making calcium additions in the form of Dolomite or Lime.

Beware of pests such as Cabbage White Butterfly or Flea Beetles and consider installing insect netting.