When to Plant Mizuna in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide

Sow March to August. Right now in October it is out of season. The next sowing month is March.

Planting window
An autumn-winter Asian green here. Sow from March, with a repeat sowing in August, and watch for caterpillars.
Days to harvest
21 days
Sunlight
Full sun in cool weather. Part shade (afternoon) in warm weather to prevent bolting and bitterness.
Water needs
Keep consistently moist. Light, frequent watering suits shallow roots. Drought stress...
Spacing
25cm apart, 30cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.5

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Mizuna guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Mizuna

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Mizuna is a fast-growing Japanese mustard green with distinctive feathery, serrated leaves and a mild, slightly peppery flavour. It is one of the easiest and fastest Asian greens to grow, ready to harvest as baby leaf in 3-4 weeks. More bolt-resistant than many Asian greens, it can be grown year-round in most Australian zones with successive sowings.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - S/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D T/D - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 24.4°C (optimal range: 10–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Mizuna in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia

When to Plant

An autumn-winter Asian green here. Sow from March, with a repeat sowing in August, and watch for caterpillars.

Soil
Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost. Not fussy about soil type but performs best in loose, moisture-retentive ground.
pH Range
6.0-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun in cool weather. Part shade (afternoon) in warm weather to prevent bolting and bitterness.
Spacing
25cm apart, 30cm between rows
Watering
Keep consistently moist. Light, frequent watering suits shallow roots. Drought stress triggers bolting and bitterness. Drip or soaker hose ideal.

Companion plants: Lettuce, Radish, Carrot, Peas, Beans

Avoid planting near: Other brassicas if disease is present

Grow before, grow after

Mizuna belongs with the brassicas, the leafy greens and brassicas turn of a four turn bed rotation.

Grow before it
Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Grow after it
Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)

Give the bed 3 turns before brassicas go back in. The cabbage family is hungry for nitrogen and shares club root and other soil diseases.

Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Mizuna

Recommended Varieties

  • Standard green mizuna

Key Challenges

  • Bolts rapidly in heat
  • Needs shade and moisture

Pro Tips

  • Shade cloth (30-50%) essential
  • Drip irrigation for consistent moisture
  • Grow as a quick cool-season crop

Harvesting Mizuna

When ready: Baby leaf: 10-15cm tall (3-4 weeks). Full size: 30-40cm (5-7 weeks). Leaves should be bright green, fresh, and tender.

How to harvest: Cut-and-come-again: cut leaves 3cm above ground level and they will regrow 2-3 times. Or harvest individual outer leaves. Or pull entire plant for one large harvest.

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the arid and semi-arid zone this October: Lemongrass, Cucumber, Savory and Basil.

The pest most likely to find your mizuna: Cabbage White Butterfly.

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Common Questions About Mizuna

When do you plant mizuna in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does mizuna grow all year round in Alice Springs?

No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Mar to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.