Hello
I am fairly new to gardening. I planted mustard greens last year and went out to cut some today and they are in full bloom. Should I leave the blooms so they will self seed or cut them off? Thanks!
Mustard greens in bloom, do I prune?
The greens will be bitter now that they are in bloom. It will also stop producing greens. If they are all the same variety you can leave their stalks on and save the seed. Beforewarned, this will result in tons of seeds. So, share with friends and family and save some for next fall. The blossoms will also attract beneficials and pollinators and can be a trap crop for aphids, whiteflies and stinkbugs.
I think that mustard can become invasive if it escapes into nearby fields via birds or other wise, so you might want to consider that if applicable.
Thank you both for your replies. I am new to gardening, cut what was there and cooked them but pulled up plants when I didn't get an answer right away. I love all kinds of greens so enjoyed even the bitter ones. Next time I will let some go to seed and save them so I don't have to buy more. Roseone33 are all greens invasive or just mustard?
I don't know about mustard but a lot of greens make little seed pods. You let them fatten up and start yellowing. Then you cut the stem and dry the seed heads. When they're brittle dry they're ready. You can then put them in a bag and roll them like a rolling pin on pie dough to break open all the pods. Then you put them in a pan or bowl, take them outside and blow away the pod pieces. Viola! Just like store bought.
This is a photo of a honeybee on my collard flowers - they are in the same family as mustard. I left them alone because they attract honeybees. The honeybees, bumble bees and native bees have been stocking up on pollen. They will have to be pulled the end of next week because my soybeans are going to take their place.
A few years back I had a patch of mustard greens at the edge of my small field. I left them alone and next season, they came back, bloomed, made seed and subsequently began to show up in the surrounding grass in the next year or so. There are plenty of low grade pastures around here that are infested with wild mustard. Cows don't seem to be interested in eating it. I pulled all the remaining plants out and kept it closely mowed and it's gone now. I don't think you would have that problem with some related plants, I doubt it. And your situation may be totally different. It might never self seed or your might welcome some reseeding. And agreed, the blooms are pretty and insects love them, a very good thing.