Author Topic: Growing mustard (Read 8706 times)

Derekthefox · « **on:** January 18, 2004, 18:30:46 »

I wish to grow mustard this year in order to make my own whole grain mustard, rather than pay extortionate prices for the preparations available. It was my intention initially to use seed acquired from health food stores, as this is very cheap and appears to be of good quality. I would be purchasing yellow (or white) seed, eventually saving seed for future use.

Does anyone have any opinions? (Of course you do!)

tim · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2004, 20:35:17 »

Do agree with you - no instant answer - but will be looking for ideas from others! = Tim

Derekthefox · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2004, 20:43:46 »

Do I gather you would be interested in doing something similar then Tim?

tim · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2004, 20:48:34 »

- if it appears to be within the bounds of possibility - then, in a small way - yes!! Tim

Dunc_n_Tricia · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2004, 21:15:30 »

I don't know about growing for seed, but we like indian mustard leaves shredded up in a salad.

It is quite spicy, so it gets mixed with other salad leaves. Even managed to keep some in a tub in the back yard (South facing and rarely frosty) almost until Christmas.

:-* Tricia

cleo · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2004, 14:20:15 »

I`m watching this one with interest ;D

Those that may know me from other boards will know that cooking is almost as close to my heart as gardening-but actually growing the seeds(cheap to buy-and make your mustard from there)this seems like a labour of love too far.

But good luck anyway.

Stephan.

philcooper · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2004, 00:32:57 »

Have a look at http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/specialcrops/big01s01

That tells how to do it and shows that mustard is a cash crop in Manitoba, Canada which has summer temperatures not much different to that in UK (and a lot colder in winter)

So it should work

Phil

Derekthefox · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2004, 23:29:34 »

Thanks Phil, that information has been useful and interesting. Here's hoping! :D

john_miller · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2004, 03:29:26 »

Growing up in the South East of England I was surrounded by fields of mustard in the summer with the resulting, visually stunning, swathes of yellow flowers, so I know it can be done but what a waste of space. From the quoted yields on the cited page Manitoba gets 1/300th of a pound per square foot! While I would encourage anyone to grow their crops of any variety they like I would point out that mustard is an extensive crop rather than an intensive crop. The limited space of an allotment or home garden would be best utilised for crops that produce a greater monetary value per square foot, in my opinion.
FYI Phil:- While the UK may occassionally achieve the same high temperatures as Manitoba, Manitoba is subject to more sustained periods of high temperatures than the UK and, more importantly, experiences many weeks of higher night time temperatures. Growing conditions there are vastly different, due to the temperatures and lower rainfall.

philcooper · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2004, 13:08:19 »

John,

I take your point on climate.

How much pepper is required? 1/300lb =~ 1/20 oz, therefore 20 sq ft = 1oz, not a lot of space out of a 30x10yd plot (approx 0.75%)

And if it fails you can dig in the mustard as green manure

Derek could be on the edge of a breakthrough for the endangered British farming industry!!

john_miller · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2004, 16:32:37 »

Sorry Phil, but I may have inadvertently clouded the issue. I merely mentioned Manitoba's climate as a piece of knowledge, not as a reason for dismissing the cultivation of mustard in the UK. Colemans are a testament to it's possibility. I do wonder though if the seeds that Derek proposes to buy are suitable for the UK climate as they may possibly come from a different country (didn't Colemans cease contracting with UK growers?).
While I agree that producing 1oz of mustard seed is not going to take up much space, it probably won't go very far either! Not with me at least, I estimate I consume about 4lbs of prepared mustard annually (I use it as a sustitute for butter in sandwiches mostly). This costs me about $16.00 a year. If the prepared mustard is 40% seed (which it is roughly) then I would have to grow over 57 sq. yds. of mustard! I think the average gardener can get a lot more than $16.00 of tomatoes, lettuce or even cabbage from that sort of area. I was taught in college that this is called 'opportunity cost'- if you grow one thing could you be missing out on extra income by not growing something else (Derek did pose his original question in purely economic terms)? Going beyond economics, I am not a sufficient connoisseur of mustard to probably appreciate the difference between shop bought and home grown, but I can certainly tell the difference between home grown cabbage/tomatoes/lettuce and shop bought!

Derekthefox · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2004, 23:27:22 »

What a fascinating debate from what appeared to be such an innocuous question!
My original approach was to simply grow my own mustard out of interest, the economics of it had not really arisen as an issue, but I had imagined that I seeded a row of 12 yards, then I would have enough seed to sustain replanting the following year, and develop the learning process from there. I grow my own chillies using a similar attitude, they are so cheap down our local market. Does the economics really play an important part in allotment terms, since for most of us it is primarily a hobby, and the costs are secondary.

john_miller · « **Reply #12 on:** January 30, 2004, 06:29:50 »

My latter comment was meant to illustrate that opportunity cost is not solely measured in fiscal terms. If you give over a certain area of your plot to mustard will you have to give up another crop(s)? If so, would this crop be preferable in terms of satisfaction/taste/bragging rights etc. to mustard?

Derekthefox · « **Reply #13 on:** January 30, 2004, 12:15:18 »

I think I am in agreement with you on this one, although perhaps not so eloquently :)
The way I view my allotment is that a (small) proportion is allocated to 'novelty' crops, something that I want to have a go at but may knock on the head if it looks like it will not be worth the effort, as I find the crops I am getting off my 600 yards are generally enough to sustain my family with all the staples.
My curiosity has been rewarded through this posting alone!

philcooper · « **Reply #14 on:** February 03, 2004, 13:24:00 »

Come, come Derek, this blatant disregard for the fiscal rules and trying new crops will lead to disaster!

Why, only the other year a chap came back from the new colonies with a thing called potato. Its fruit is inedible, nay poisonous - think what could have happenined if people had taken him seriously and started to grow the noxious plant!!!
;)

Derekthefox · « **Reply #15 on:** February 03, 2004, 20:49:09 »

Perhaps I should hold fire on this project until I have discussed it through with my bank manager, having first done a full cost analysis and prepared a five year plan, with best and worst case scenarios. ;D

philcooper · « **Reply #16 on:** February 03, 2004, 21:18:47 »

Provided you add in the most likely scenario, with its probability, vis a vis the best and worst cases, you should be ok - I'm glad you're taking this seriously at last!!!!

Oh, and the best of luck with the project

Derekthefox · « **Reply #17 on:** February 04, 2004, 00:07:18 »

Whew, and to think I was just going to go down to the local health food shop and buy 200g of white mustard seed, make some whole grain blended with chillies, and plant some of the seed in late march.

Serious business, this gardening lark, glad to know I have the razor sharp minds within this site!

john_miller · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2004, 13:24:36 »

While I look at issues slightly differently from home growers when it comes to economics (this is the first time I have come back to this thread since my last post so have previously missed the comedy- which I don't mind, I add) one aspect of your original post was (very occassionally- I haven't been laying awake at night over it) 'troubling' me but it was only when I was reading the back of a seed packet that it came to me.
All crucifer seed lots intended for propagation are tested for various seed borne diseases- notably 'Black Leg', a fungus that can be carried on seed coats. The mustard seeds that you propose buying will probably not have been assayed for this so you run the risk of inadvertently introducing this serious disease of brassicas into your patch.

Derekthefox · « **Reply #19 on:** February 28, 2004, 16:40:41 »

That is an important point I had not even considered. Perhaps I need to research the methods (organic of possible) of combating blackleg, since I don't know anywhere else to buy the yellow and black(brown) mustard seed I want to grow and harvest.
I am glad you managed to enjoy the humour within the (to me) serious topic. :)

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Author Topic: Growing mustard (Read 8706 times)