FAQ

Work up the ground to a good, moist seedbed.  Sprinkle or broadcast seeds onto the surface and lightly till, rake or harrow them into the soil, to a depth of about 1 inch. If using a drill, set at 0, or use the settings for canola or alfalfa. Follow immediately with light irrigation. Plants will not emerge if soil crusts. If it is seeded shallow, with good moisture and soil temperatures above 50° Fahrenheit, the mustard plants should emerge within 4 to 5 days.

Mighty Mustard® water recommendations

Water as necessary. If you are growing the mustard to full bloom, total water needs should be about 7 to 8 inches of irrigation. Warmer temperatures increase the need for water.

Optimal growing temperatures

65-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooler temperatures will result in a slower rate of growth.

The best time to Chop & Incorporate Mighty Mustard®: At flowering.

The highest levels of glucosinolates and myrosinase availability in seed are reached when the plants are at full bloom and continues for the next two weeks. Please note: Seeds typically become viable 4-6 weeks after flowering. If you don’t incorporate the plants before the seed becomes viable, you run the risk of your cover crop solution becoming a weed problem.

The average is 35-40 days, depending on the soil temperature and growing degree days.

Using a flail mower, chop the plants as finely as possible and till in the green mustard immediately to quickly release the glucosinolates into the soil and hasten biomass breakdown. Immediately water and roll soil to activate and seal glucosinolates.

**The incorporation process is time-sensitive, so it’s crucial to complete all the actions in one day.**

PLEASE NOTE that moisture is key, as the glucosinolates are short-lived, so you need to release them into the soil ASAP to improve biofumigation potential.

Wait at least three weeks to plant your next crop.

Mustard will withstand a light frost, down to 26° F, and succumb to killing frosts. You have the option of mowing and incorporating the mustard at the first signs of flowering, immediately after it is killed by frost, or the following spring.

Dormant seed may germinate in the spring. However, you may till in or spray out the volunteer plants before planting your next crop. Please note: If you allow Mighty Mustard® to go to seed, you may have a tough time getting rid of it.

Choose the season that works best for your planting schedule. You can plant in the fall and again in the spring or once per year. In the fall, try planting in August or September. In the spring, plant as soon as you’re able to work the soil. Remember that you must wait at least three weeks after incorporating your Mighty Mustard® green manure before planting your next crop.

Always check plant-back restrictions prior to planting Mighty Mustard®.

Yes, if you reduce the seeding rate to 3-6 pounds per acre for a cocktail of three or more crops. Mighty Mustard®​ is highly competitive, hence the need to reduce the seeding rate. If you want the mustard to play a more dominant role in the blend, increase the seeding rate. This is a new area of study, so more precise recommended seeding rates are still being researched.

Yes. The mustard residue is extremely easy to no-till into with either a disc or shank drill. You can seed right after harvesting Mighty Mustard®, no wait period required.

White Gold: 5-6 tons per acre

Kodiak: 5-6 tons/acre

Pacific Gold: 4-5 tons per acre

Mustards have a C:N ratio of 14:1 for above ground biomass. With a low C:N ratio, such as a mustard crop, you could see a surplus of N in the soil, a benefit we tout for nutrient recycling with the incorporation of a brassica cover crop.  

Nitrogen(N): Consider soil test results prior to application. Best to apply preplant or at time of seeding with direct seeding system. If soil is N deficient, apply at rates of 50-80 lbs/acre.

Sulfur: Because sulfur is a major element of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, we recommend maintaining a 6:1 ratio of nitrogen to sulfur to maximize biomass growth and glucosinolate production.

No. Mighty Mustard® excels at recycling nitrogen from deep in the soil. If you’re looking for an all-natural way to increase the nitrogen levels in your soil, we recommend planting our Austrian winter peas. The peas make their own nitrogen and will add 20 to 40 pounds of nitrogen per acre to your soil.

Flea leaf beetles and cabbage aphids are attracted to all types of mustard, but other pests avoid Mighty Mustard® varieties because they can’t tolerate their natural “heat” or spiciness.

We recommend that you do not feed Mighty Mustard® to your animals, as the glucosinolates in mustard “may irritate digestive tracts or create thyroid problems in livestock if consumed in large quantities over time” (DiTomaso and Healy, 2007).

Mighty Mustard® is not suitable for grazing by livestock. If you have further questions, please consult your veterinarian, as we want to ensure the safety of all animals.

Nematode suppression protocol:

Like all brassicas, mustard is a host plant for nematodes. We recommend the following protocol for nematode suppression:

1. At the first sign of flowering, typically 30-35 days after emergence, chop mustard as finely as possible.

2. Immediately incorporate into soil.

3. Immediately water and roll soil to activate and seal glucosinolates.

**The incorporation process is time-sensitive, so it’s crucial to complete all the actions in one day. DON’T leave a trash layer of mustard organic matter on top of the soil.**

PLEASE NOTE that moisture is key, as the glucosinolates are short-lived, so you need to release them into the soil ASAP to suppress nematodes. To learn more, read “How Mighty Mustard® biofumigation works.”

4. Allow three weeks between time of incorporation and the planting of your next crop.

Need more information about seeding rates, planting and incorporation guidelines?

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