How to grow mustard so it thrives? A detailed guide to the planting method

Different people have different opinions about mustard, because its flavor is quite unique. The two most common types of mustard are green mustard and yellow mustard. They can, to a certain extent, lower blood pressure and blood lipids, and play a role in preventing heart disease. At present, mustard cultivation in our country is still not very widespread, mainly in the southwestern region of our country. So today let us look at the planting method for mustard and how to grow mustard better.

1. Site selection and land preparation

Mustard is generally grown in areas with higher altitude, so the planting site is best chosen on mountain land with a certain slope. Next, forest land or shrub land can be used for planting, because the growth of mustard has certain requirements for light: it likes light but cannot tolerate direct sunlight, so forest land is the best possible choice for growing mustard. Then choose sandy soil with abundant rainfall and forest land with strong surface water retention capacity for planting. When preparing the land, plow the soil deeply, at least about 35 cm, remove the weeds in the field, then dig furrows and make ridges at a spacing of 1 m, which helps with drainage, and then spread a sufficient amount of base fertilizer and wait for sowing.

2. Sowing at the right time

For transplanting, mustard in our country can generally be grown in two seasons, respectively in March and April in spring, and September and October in autumn. At these times, the temperature, light and rainfall are all relatively in line with the growth needs of mustard. Mustard planted at these times is easier to manage, and its yield and quality are also much higher than at other times. There are two planting methods, namely direct sowing and transplanting. Direct sowing is mainly done by drilling in rows with a spacing of 20 cm per row and 15 cm per plant, then covering the seed with soil and waiting for seedlings to emerge. Transplanting, however, requires first raising mustard seedlings, and when the seedlings are about 15 cm tall they can be transplanted.

3. Field management

The most important aspects of field management for mustard are water management and fertilizer management, followed by weeding and removing flower stalks. After planting, one watering is needed. Usually, if there is no rainfall for a week after planting, then a second watering is needed. When the seedlings after planting have grown back to 15 cm, carry out the first fertilization, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer and potassium fertilizer, about 50 jin per mu. When mustard grows to about 25 cm, carry out the second fertilization. This fertilization should be relatively sufficient, requiring about 100 jin per mu, and part of the mustard leaves should be harvested. Finally, when the mustard has grown to a certain extent, use an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer for supplementary fertilizing, and after about another ten days to half a month it can be harvested. Each fertilization needs to be done together with intertillage, which can enhance the resistance of the plants and also help the full absorption of nutrients.

4. Pest and disease control

The most common diseases of mustard are mainly downy mildew and white rust. These two diseases mainly harm the stems and leaves of mustard and have a considerable impact on the yield and quality of mustard. Of course, for these diseases we mainly focus on prevention, but after they occur, zineb wettable powder plus 800-fold liquid of new high-fat film, and chlorothalonil wettable powder, can be used respectively for control.