How to Grow Mustard Microgreens: Our Experience with Organic Wasabina Mustard

We found that Wasabina Mustard microgreens grew differently than Red Garnet or Wasabi Mustard microgreens.

When we tried to grow them like other mustards, we had problems with poor germination, not only once but twice.

The takeaway from this article is that not all microgreen family varieties will grow best using one method.

We will show you how to grow Wasabina Mustard microgreens and when to harvest them.

How to Grow Mustard Microgreens Articles

This isn’t the first how to grow mustard microgreens article we published. In fact, it’s the third.

We have published an article on how to grow Red Garnet Mustard microgreens.

One of our favorites to grow because of the deep maroon leaves and milder flavor.

Also, we grew Wasabi Mustard microgreens. These very spicy microgreens are a favorite of those wanting to add spicy flavor to food. 

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It is also one of our best-selling seeds.

Why Write Another Mustard Microgreen Article?

We wanted to add a spicy mustard microgreen seed to the Home Microgreens Store. Wasabina mustard proved to be the best choice.

We wanted to add these seeds because of their spice level (not quite as spicy as Wasabi mustard), the cost of the seed is much less than other organic spicy flavored mustards, and because we wanted to add another organic variety to the store.

The Truth of the Matter

Truthfully, we would not have published another mustard microgreen article if all had gone the way it should have gone.

But when testing – we continuously test new varieties of seed and each lot of seed we purchase – these organic Wasabina mustard seeds did not grow as we expected. 

So we thought it a good idea to share our experience.

How to Grow Mustard Microgreens – Or Not

The first time we grew Wasabina mustard seeds, we used the domed method, with 1.8 grams of seed on Home Microgreens Potting Mix in a Home Microgreens planting tray.

The results weren’t outstanding. 

Poor germination and small weak plants.

Of course, we thought it was a problem with the seed. But before we threw in the towel, it was time to get back to basics.

The Microgreens Podcast Episode 016

Growing Wasabina Mustard Microgreens with Great Results

On the next go-around, we increased the amount of seed on each tray to 2.0 grams. One tray went through the blackout period using the dome method, and the other the weighted method. 

After 3-days, we took off the towel that kept the trays in the dark and looked at the results. The first photo shows the domed method on the left and the weighted method on the right.

The results are pretty shocking to us; as you can see in the photo below, the right tray (weighted method) looks nice. However, the mustard seeds under the dome have poor germination (left tray) and are straggly.

The shocking part is how poorly the domed method worked. Not only once but twice. Usually, thin-stemmed microgreens, like mustards and amaranth, do well under the domed method. 

For instance, look at the results from the Red Garnet Mustard (top) and Wasabi Mustard grown under a darkened dome (bottom). 

The fuzzy white stuff you see is not mold. Those are root hairs and are commonly seen using the dome method, as there is so much humidity under the dome that the roots down try to grow downward. 

In the right photo, the one with the Wasabi Mustard, the tray on the left side was in a weighted blackout. So it isn’t surprising that the Wasabina Mustard using the weighted method, germinated well. 

The advantage of the domed method, especially with thin-stemmed microgreens, is that they grow quicker and taller than the weighted method. However, mustards and Amaranth left in the weighted method too long can have issues.

The Best Way to Grow Wasabina Mustard

Fill the tray with a good potting mix, level, and tamp the soil, as shown in the How to Grow Microgreens for the First Time video. 

Next, wet the upper surface of the soil by misting it three or four times.  Remember, the soil does not and should not be completely soaked. 

Sprinkle the Wasabina Mustard microgreen seeds onto the soil. If you’re using the Home Microgreen Trays, we recommend 2.0 grams of seed.

If you are growing microgreens in a different size tray, use the Home Microgreens Seed Calculator to find a good starting seed mass for your size tray. 

We Use These Microgreen Trays

We use Bootstrap Farmer Shallow Heavy-duty trays to plant 1010 or 1020 trays. We also use their deeper trays to plant peas or other uses.

These trays will never be damaged with normal use.

Heavy-duty Trays

We use the Home Microgreens Trays & Soil when we grow microgreens for ourselves. We like the amount of microgreens these trays grow, and we find we can either stagger plantings or double up trays to fit our microgreen needs.

Home Microgreens Trays

Here’s the Important Part for Wasabina Mustard Microgreens

Be sure to place the tray of Wasabina Mustard into a weighted blackout. This means covering the tray with something that will allow you to put weight on it and press the seeds into the soil.

It appears that the seeds like to have good seed-to-soil contact. 

If you are unsure about the weighted blackout, read and listen to the description here. 

Growing Wasabina Mustard Microgreens After Blackout

Once the microgreens are out of the blackout, water them from the bottom and put them under LED lighting. 

Mustard microgreens grow rather quickly. 

In 7-days, the microgreens should look like the trays below. 

Your Next Decision with Wasabina Mustard Microgreens

As you can see, Wasabina Mustard microgreens can be ready to harvest in as few as 7 days. First, however, you have a choice to make.

Like those above and below, you can harvest them in the cotyledon stage. 

Or, you can wait seven to ten more days and start harvesting them when the true leaves form. Similar to the leaves in the photos below.

What’s the difference Between the Leaves?

There are two differences as far as you, the consumer, are concerned.

In general, the flavor of microgreens grown to true leaf stage is bolder. Therefore, letting the Wasabina form true leaves will give you a spicer and more robust horseradish flavor.

The second difference is that letting microgreens grow to true leaf size will yield a larger yield.

There Are Drawbacks

The main drawback is that growing microgreens to their true leaves take longer. 

So if you let them grow out for 15 or 20 days, you could grow almost three trays of microgreens to the cotyledon stage with more mass of microgreens. Of course, that would take three times the amount of supplies. Growing to true leaf is less expensive in the long run.

The other drawback is the amount of care.

As microgreens grow, not only are the plants getting larger and requiring more water, but the roots are filling the tray, reducing the amount of water that can be absorbed in one watering. 

Also, the longer a tray of microgreens grows, the more likely something can go wrong.

Our Suggestion On When to Harvest

We suggest taste testing as the microgreens grow. Not only for mustards but all microgreens. There is no sense in growing a microgreen to the true leaf stage if you don’t care for the flavor as much. 

Don’t listen when we or anyone else says a microgreen is ready to harvest. That’s for you to figure out based on your tastebuds.

Summary of How to Grow Wasabina Mustard Microgreens

1. Purchase Organic Wasabina Microgreens and soil from the Home Microgreens Store.
2. If you are using a Home Microgreens Tray, use 2.0 grams of seed. If you have another size tray, use this article’s microgreen seed calculator to determine how much seed you need.
3. Only wet the upper layer of soil and mist the seeds after sowing on top of the soil.
4. Place the tray into a weighted blackout for 3 days at average room temperatures. 
5. Once the seeds have germinated and are looking for a way out from under the weight (see the photo in this article), place the tray under LED lights and bottom water the planting tray.
6. Watch them grow for 4 to 16 days afterward, and start taste testing 7 days after planting.
7. Maybe let the first tray continue to grow, tasting a few each day until you find the perfect flavor for you and your family. Remember how they look and grow your next trays to that stage.

Do You Have a Pinterest Microgreen Board?

If not, why not start one! Use this pin as the first or add to your existing boards.

If You Have Any Questions

Leave a comment below, or you can reach out to us, and we will answer you promptly. 

We are happy to help.

Remember, the Home Microgreens Store has all the seeds and supplies you need to grow microgreens at home. 

Are You Looking For Microgreen Seeds and Supplies?

Home Microgreens online store sells reasonably priced microgreen seed packets with the perfect amount of seed for 1010 and Home Microgreens trays plus ounce, 1/4-pound, and pound bags.

We also carry our own microgreen soil and fiber mats for the home microgreen grower!