India Mustard
Florida Broadleaf
Brassica juncea
Bolting
This Florida Broadleaf heirloom variety is not the most peppery but is our favorite for flavor over a long grow season.
Bolting is the term for when, usually a leafy green or vegetative crop, goes to seed. It is usually and undesirable thing to have happen as the plant begins putting all of its energy into producing terminal flower buds and then seeds. This biological drive can be triggered by environmental conditions but also is just a normal life cycle for the plants. They are plants genetically programmed to optimally reproduce and so it’s also about timing and season. Here with this India mustard the time to harvest the leaves and tender shoots would have been in early and mid to late spring. As it gets warmer and the day length increases, longer daytime, a day length sensitive programming will induce the plants to put out flowers and seeds. This is a volunteer from last years planting of one of our favorite mustard variety and as such we want this plant to go to seed and collect as much as possible. While wild mustard is considered self incompatible it is stated that India mustard can self pollinate. While we still have seed stored from last year in the packet we have just this one plant and we hope it is self pollinating.
India Mustard, Brassica juncea, is a particular favorite of ours for its unique attributes. It has a uniquely peppery yet enjoyable flavor. It is more heat tolerant than other mustard varieties usually grown for their green. The leaves are larger and not lobed like some other highly desirable and delicate mustard greens but it is generally more serrated than other varieties. The seeds are larger with themselves also having a unique flavor from other mustard seed and is also known as ‘brown mustard.’ Pollinator or predator handing out on the flowers here in pics?
Super Robust
It’s easy to see why this is a favorite. Florida Broadleaf is so resistant to heat it’s impressive. I feel like if we didn’t let this one volunteer go to seed it could have been a summer long cut and come again mustard green. It’s really hardy and really prolific with flowers and if they self as we expect and the seed is viable then there should be. no problem securing enough seed for fall baby greens and replanting next year and to freeze enough for future use if we miss a collection year.
