Mustard
Mustard is one of the most common leafy vegetables in the market. It is rich in calcium, iron, phosphorus, and vitamins.
There are two important varieties of mustar, the Tagalog and Chinese. The first is smaller but more pungent than the second.
It grows in any kind of well-drained soil but , if available, rich sandy loam soil is preferable. The plants are usually planted from September to December when the climate turns from mild to cool.
How to plant
Mustard seeds are sown in wooden seed boxes, flower pots or in plots. Provide a partial shade to protect the germinating seeds. Water the seedlings twice a day. Spray recommended pesticides to protect the developing seedlings against pests. Prick some of the seedlings and transfer to other seed boxes or seed plots in case of overcrowding.
Divide the prepared land into plots of one meter wide and of convenient length, providing a working path of about 30 cm wide.
Transplant the seedlings at a distance of about 20 cm each way when they have formed one or two pairs of true leaves. Water the plants daily until harvest.
Harvesting is done during cloudy days, late in the afternoon, or when there is a light shower.
Cultivate whenever the sopil appears compacted, or when the plots become weedy to promote aeration and to kill the weeds that compete with the plants for nutrients. Practice crop rotation, sanitation, and use of disease-free planting materials.
Use 5g ammonium sulphate per plant five days after transplanting and 10 g 15 days after.
They are harvested as soon as the plants are big enough to market.
Aphids are the primary pest of mustard, including cutworms and mustard worms. Damping-off is the primary disease of mustard.
Practice crop rotation and cleanliness. For the control of these pests , consult the nearest Bureau of Plant Industry Office.
Source: DA