GrowSabzHow to grow mizuna in pots
Also called Japanese Mustard Greens, Kyona, kyona, japanese mustard · Brassica rapa var. nipposinica
میزونا
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 4–6hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 0.4 Levery 2 days, 5 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 10–24°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 5 L15 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 20–40days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 0.4 kgper 20 L pot
Mizuna is one of the fastest things you can grow — roughly 35 days from sowing to harvest. That makes it forgiving of mistakes, because a failed sowing costs you weeks rather than a season, and it's a good crop to slot between slower ones.
Short answer
Grow mizuna in a 5 litre container at least 15 cm deep, watering about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil every 2 days, and keep temperatures between 10 and 24 °C. First harvest comes 20–40 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does mizuna need?
5 litres and 15 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 5 L | 15 cm | Use pots with good drainage |
| Grow bag | 7 L | 15 cm | Fabric bags provide good aeration |
| Open ground | — | 20 cm | Ensure consistent soil moisture |
| Raised bed | 10 L | 20 cm | Ideal for good drainage and soil control |
Watering
How often should you water mizuna?
Every 2 days through the growing season, at about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — daily in hot weather, every 3 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Drip irrigation or gentle watering at base works best.
Too little water
- wilting leaves
- slow growth
- bitter taste
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- stunted growth
- root rot
Avoid: letting soil dry out completely; overhead watering in humid conditions.
Climate
Can you grow mizuna where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 10 – 24 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -5 – 30 °C |
| Germinates above | 4 °C — best at 20 °C, about 7 days |
| Flowers drop | above 28 °C, or below -2 °C |
| Sunlight | 4–8 hrs/day, best 6 |
| Frost | Low sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 30 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for mizuna? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Mizuna growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for mizuna
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why mizuna fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 5 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Mizuna wants about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 28 °C, or below -2 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Planting it beside Cabbage
Other Brassicas (like cabbage, broccoli, kale) compete for the same nutrients and attract the same pests and diseases, increasing overall risk.
Companions
What to plant with mizuna
Good neighbours
Provides ground cover, helping to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. Shares similar growing conditions.
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps, which prey on common Brassica pests such as aphids and cabbage worms.
Its strong scent helps repel flea beetles, slugs, and other pests. (Plant in containers to prevent invasiveness).
Emits a strong odor that deters aphids, slugs, and other common pests of Brassicas.
African marigolds release chemicals from their roots that deter nematodes, while French marigolds repel other harmful insects.
Keep apart from
Other Brassicas (like cabbage, broccoli, kale) compete for the same nutrients and attract the same pests and diseases, increasing overall risk.
Can stunt the growth of Mizuna and other Brassicas due to differing soil and nutrient requirements.
Tomatoes can inhibit the growth of Brassicas, potentially stunting Mizuna's development.
Legumes like beans and peas can sometimes stunt the growth of Brassicas, possibly due to competition or allelopathic effects.
Problems
Mizuna pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Flea Beetles humidity any · temp >18
Small, jumping beetles that chew numerous small, round holes (shot-holes) in leaves, especially on young plants. Can severely damage seedlings.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and the undersides of leaves, sucking sap and secreting sticky honeydew, leading to distorted leaves.
Cabbage Worms humidity any · temp >18
Green caterpillars that chew large, irregular holes in leaves. Often difficult to spot due to their camouflage.
Slugs Snails humidity >70% · temp 10-20
Leave irregular holes in leaves and silvery slime trails. Most active in damp, cool conditions, especially on young, tender leaves.
Downy Mildew humidity >85% · temp 10-20
Causes yellow or pale spots on the upper surface of leaves, with fuzzy gray or purplish mold on the underside. Thrives in cool, wet conditions.
Powdery Mildew humidity 50-70% · temp 20-27
White, powdery fungal spots appear mainly on the upper surface of leaves. Can cause leaves to yellow and die off prematurely, especially in dry, warm conditions.
Clubroot humidity any · temp 18-25
A soil-borne fungal disease causing swollen, distorted roots, leading to stunted growth, wilting, and yellowing leaves. Affects all Brassicas.
Bolting humidity any · temp >25
Premature flowering and seed production, often triggered by high temperatures, long daylight hours, or water stress. Leaves become bitter and tough.
Harvest
When to harvest mizuna
First picking falls between day 20 and day 40, and the plant then keeps producing for about 60 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Tender, young leaves
- Desired size (baby or mature)
How much to expect
Storing it: Wash, dry, and store in an airtight bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Questions
Mizuna: common questions
How long does mizuna take to grow?
About 35 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 20 and day 40. It then keeps producing for roughly 60 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does mizuna need?
At least 5 litres and 15 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 10 litres of soil and 20 cm of depth.
How often should I water mizuna?
About 600 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 2 days in normal weather — daily when it is hot and every 3 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does mizuna need?
It does best between 10 °C and 24 °C and survives from -5 °C to 30 °C. Seed needs soil above 4 °C to germinate, ideally around 20 °C.
Can I grow mizuna in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -5 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when mizuna is ready to harvest?
Tender, young leaves; Desired size (baby or mature). Once picked: wash, dry, and store in an airtight bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.
How much does one mizuna plant produce?
Roughly 0.4 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 1 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.