Mustard plants are part of the brassica family and can be grown for their spicy salad leaves or for the seeds - or both! Mustard is easy to grow and germinates quickly. 

You can literally scatter the seeds in the place you wish to grow it and give it a light covering of soil and water. You may want to thin them out later on. Mustard is a dense plant with lots of leaves; allow approximately 10 inches between each. You can also grow it in containers. The best time to sow mustard directly is early to mid-April just before the last frosts.

Mustard will grow in most soil types as long as the soil is not too waterlogged, when it is worthwhile to dig in some well-rotted manure or sand. Mustard likes full sun or partial shade and generally likes the cooler parts of Spring and summer. Water regularly in dry and hot spells.

Protect your mustard plants against slugs and snails who love to hide in the dense foliage.

Mustard can grow quite tall and will produce yellow flowers, sometimes white flowers and pods will begin to form. When the pods have changed from green to light brown, harvest the pods and dry them out for a period of approximately a fortnight before popping the pods for the seeds. If they are left on the plants, they will likely self-seed around your plot. Store the seeds in an airtight container.