How to Grow Mizuna
Brassica rapa var. japonica
Mizuna is a quick-growing brassica prized for its peppery flavor and tender leaves. Gardeners grow it to add texture and heat to salads or as a vibrant addition to winter greens bowls.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Mizuna: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Mizuna is not usually started indoors.
Mizuna is best direct-sown in the garden rather than transplanted to avoid shock and bolting.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. As a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors 2 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost, or start indoors during this window. Press seeds lightly into the soil at a depth of about 1/4 inch. Germination typically occurs within 4 to 7 days.
Space plants 6 to 12 inches apart, widening gaps if you want full-size heads rather than baby greens. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, as Mizuna requires high moisture levels. Apply a light mulch around the base to retain humidity and suppress weeds without smothering the young foliage.
Watch for flea beetles, aphids, and cabbage worms; their quick growth cycle usually offers natural resistance. Harvest leaves when they are tender, typically taking 21 to 45 days from sowing depending on your desired size. Snip outer leaves first or cut the whole plant at soil level once it reaches maturity.
When to Plant Mizuna
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | April – May | June – July | June – September |
| Zone 2 | April – May | May – July | June – September |
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | May – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | April – June | May – October |
| Zone 5 | February – March | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | April – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | March – May | April – November |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | March – December |
| Zone 9 | January | February – March | February – December |
| Zone 10 | January | January – March | February – December |
| Zone 11 | January | January – February | January – December |
| Zone 12 | January | January – February | January – December |
| Zone 13 | January | January – February | January – December |
Companion Plants for Mizuna
✓ Good companions
Deep taproot doesn't compete with shallow mizuna roots, improves soil structure
Different root depths avoid competition and carrots repel some pests
Repels aphids and cabbage worms with sulfur compounds
Repel aphids and other soft-bodied insects that damage mizuna leaves
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control cabbage pests
Attracts beneficial insects that prey on pests affecting brassicas
Shallow roots don't compete, provides living mulch and maximizes space usage
Compatible growing requirements and can be interplanted for succession harvests
Deter flea beetles, aphids, and other pests that commonly attack brassicas
Acts as trap crop for flea beetles and aphids, draws pests away from mizuna
Act as trap crop for flea beetles and aphids, protecting mizuna
Strong scent repels cabbage worms, aphids, and other brassica pests
Helps break up soil, deters flea beetles that commonly attack brassicas
Break up soil for shallow mizuna roots and deter flea beetles
Similar growing conditions and harvest times, efficient space usage
Similar growing requirements, harvested at different times for succession planting
✗ Keep away from
Competes for same nutrients and attracts similar pests like cabbage worms
Can shade mizuna excessively and compete for nitrogen in soil
Can inhibit growth of brassicas and may compete for similar nutrients
May inhibit growth of brassicas through root competition
May stunt brassica growth and attract pests that also damage mizuna
Different water and nutrient needs, tomatoes may shade out mizuna
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
