Yellow mustard Seeds

Yellow mustard (Sinapis alba) is a fast-growing annual to about 70 cm whose pale seeds are ground into yellow table mustard; it is also sown as a cover crop and green manure.

Also known as: White mustard, Safed rai (Hindi), Mostaza blanca (Spanish), Moutarde blanche (French), Weißer Senf (German), Senape bianca (Italian), Mostarda-branca (Portuguese), Brassica alba and Brassica hirta (older scientific names).

Germination temperature

Seed-testing rules (ISTA) test the species at alternating 20/30 °C, with a constant 20 °C as an alternative, counting first on day 3 and finally on day 7. These are approximate laboratory test conditions for the species, not a result for this lot.

Plant facts that affect your sowing

• Annual that flowers once day length passes a critical threshold, so plants sown into long summer days tend to flower early.
• Seeds are beige, yellow or light brown, usually 1.0–1.5 mm across.
• Self-incompatible: it needs cross-pollination by wind and insects such as bees and flower flies, so sow a stand rather than a single plant if you want seed.
• Early vigour suppresses weeds, and the species resists the sugar beet cyst nematode.

Sowing and early care

1. Sow into a clean, well-drained medium.
2. Keep moisture steady until seedlings appear, and avoid waterlogging.
3. Move seedlings into stronger light gradually.

We state no germination percentage for this lot because none has been tested.

FAQ

Are yellow mustard and white mustard the same plant?

Yes. Both names refer to Sinapis alba; the older names Brassica alba and Brassica hirta point to the same species.

Can I use it as a cover crop?

Yes. The species is grown as a cover crop and green manure, especially in Europe, because it grows fast and suppresses weeds.