Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, mizuna is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing mizuna.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Mizuna Belong To?
Mizuna (Brassica rapa var. niposinica) belongs to the Brassicaceae family, also known as the cabbage family.
Some of its relatives include broccoli, kale, and komatsuna.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Mizuna?
The minimum container depth recommended for mizuna is 6 inches.
Mizuna has shallow roots that could potentially fit into a container that is 4-5 inches deep, but the roots may be more cramped. This could result in the plant producing smaller leaves.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Mizuna?
Some of mizuna's best companions are as follows:
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Mizuna?
Mizuna is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with mizuna are as follows:
- Sunflower
- Beans like green beans and soybeans
- Strawberry
What Soil Conditions Does Mizuna Need?
Mizuna prefers rich, well-draining soil.
How Long Does Mizuna Take to Germinate?
Mizuna takes 4-8 days to germinate at a temperature of 40-85°F.
How Much Sun Does Mizuna Need?
Mizuna can grow in full sun to part shade.
In other words, it grows fastest in full sun. It will still grow in dappled shade or part shade, just at a slower rate.
Mizuna grown in the shade is more susceptible to pests and disease. This is because it takes longer to grow, so it is exposed to these risks for a longer period of time than if it was grown in full sun.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and mizuna grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Mizuna Need?
Mizuna needs 1 inch of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Mizuna?
Mizuna grows fastest in temperatures of 45-75°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety.
How Tall Does Mizuna Get?
The average height of mizuna is 5-18 inches.
The average width of mizuna is 10-15 inches.
Is Mizuna Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Mizuna is a biennial vegetable, meaning that its life cycle spans 2 years, and it flowers, produces seed, and dies in its second year.
But it is more prone to bolting than most biennials are. It is at risk of bolting in regions or seasons where temperatures are consistently above 75°F. If it bolts and goes to seed early, it will not live into its second year as it otherwise would.
How Does Mizuna Reproduce?
Mizuna reproduces by seed.
How Much Mizuna is Produced Per Plant?
For mizuna, how much is produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the variety and growing conditions.
Mizuna leaves regrow after harvesting. Most mizuna plants produce 0.5 to 1 pound of leaves each.
Can Mizuna Be Ingested?
Mizuna leaves and stems are edible.
Although highly nutritious, mizuna does not have any known uses in herbal preparations.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting mizuna.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of mizuna rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for mizuna here!
Mizuna is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: