Mustard Seeds - Cho Kara - Heirloom

Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF

Other Common Names: Purple or red leaf mustard, purple or red mustard cabbage, jie cai, gai cai, kaai tsoi, goi choy, taka-na, purple tall greens, karashi-na.

How to Grow Cho Kara Mustard

Sow seeds in two-week intervals starting 3 weeks before the last frost until early autumn. Provide an open space in a sunny location for growing. Keep the soil consistently moist. If the plants are allowed to dry, their taste and attractiveness decrease. The flavor is best when grown briskly; plant in fertile soil and keep watered. Thin to 10 inches apart for mature plants. May bolt as temperatures and day lengths increase. It usually takes 3-4 weeks for 5-6 leaves to grow.

For microgreens: Wash seeds thoroughly before planting. Broadcast seeds and cover with a thin layer of soil. Keep uniformly moist. Harvest by cutting when seed leaves (cotyledons) open. For smaller sprouts, use a sprouting jar indoors.

Harvesting Cho Kara Mustard

Cut microgreens when cotyledons are dark green and fully formed. Start harvesting at 3 inches tall for baby mustard greens. Single leaves may be harvested at any stage into maturity. Cut them off sparingly to allow the younger leaves to develop. Some wait until the plant reaches maturity and then harvest the entire head like a cabbage.

Culinary Tips

Wash sprouts well before eating. Use in salad, soups, sushi or as an edible garnish with sashimi. Add Cho Kara’s more mature leaves and stems to fresh salads for a pop of taste.

Tips From Our Gardeners

“If you love spicy mustard and mustard greens, you will start growing Cho Kara as a household staple!”

- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

Seeds Per Package

• 4 g packet - Approximately 2,000 Seeds
• 1 oz - Approximately 14,000 Seeds
• 4 oz - Approximately 56,000 Seeds
• 1 lb - Approximately 224,000 Seeds
• 5 lb - Approximately 1,112,000 Seeds
• 25 lb - Approximately 5,600,000 Seeds