Easy spice to grow.

I hate to think of surviving on just whole wheat, beans and rice. That is why in my garden I have been adding some spices.

Often we think of spice as an exotic and difficult to grow product from the warm climate. It is true that many of the well know spices will not grow in the temperate zones. There are however many spices that grow well in the cooler places.

This year I have began experimenting with mustard. Mustard is an herb that is very easy to grow. Most varieties are heirloom and the seeds can be planted from season to season.

Despite what  the bible indicates mustard is not grown on a tree. It is a low herb that grows a lot like lettuce. It is a warming green. By warming I mean the leaves are warm or hot to the taste. And not too surprising they taste a lot like mustard.

To grow mustard greens plant the seeds a few inches apart. I did mine 3 inches apart. the plants grew to about 12 inches high and produced a lot of leaves. They make a nice spicy addition to a green salad. They are a bit like water cress. I would not use them for the whole salad. They would be to hot. If you suffer from heart burn you may want to have your ant-acid on hand if you eat too much.

This plant also produces a second crop. When the weather turns hot (80 degrees Fahrenheit) the plants bolt quickly. This is not a problem. The flower stalks may grow over 36 inches. They have a lot of small yellow flowers on them. Bees pollinate the flowers that become seed pods that are about an inch or so long and about 1/16 inch wide. Let the pods stay on the pants until they begin to turn brown or yellow. Then pick them off and place them in a paper bag. If you leave the pods on the plant they will split open and the seeds will fly out in every direction. Let the seed pod dry in the bag. When they are dry shake the bag this will cause most of the pods to open. Any pods left unopened and be gently crushed in your fingers to free the seeds.  Separate out the seeds. The seeds can be used for pickling or crushed and made into mustard. The mustard in a bit warmer than the yellow mustard in the store. It has a flavor more like Dijon mustard.

Be sure to save some of the seeds for the next years crop.