When to Plant Mizuna in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
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.
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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.
- Planting window
- Mar to Aug
- Days to harvest
- 21 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 25 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
Mizuna is a fast-growing Japanese mustard green with distinctive feathery, serrated leaves and a mild, slightly peppery flavour.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar S/D
- Apr S/T/D
- May S/T/D
- Jun S/T/D
- Jul S/T/D (likely to bolt)
- Aug T/D (likely to bolt)
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Amber = likely to bolt if sown this month, it matures into heat or long days.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Mizuna in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost. Not fussy about soil type but performs best in loose, moisture-retentive ground.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- 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.
- Good companions
- Lettuce, Carrot, Radish
- Keep away from
- Other brassicas if disease is present
- 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
Pests and problems for Mizuna in Arid / Semi-Arid
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.
Storing and preserving mizuna
How to keep it
- Blanching and Freezing. Wash. Blanch 1 minute. Ice bath. Drain and squeeze. Pack into freezer bags. Use in stir-fries and soups. Keeps: 6-8 months.
- Fresh Storage. Wrap in damp paper towel in sealed bag in fridge crisper. Best eaten fresh. Keeps: 3-5 days.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
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:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Sep Likely to bolt if sown in July, August and September.
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Feb to Aug Likely to bolt if sown in August.
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Feb to Oct Likely to bolt if sown in October.
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Feb to May, Aug to Oct Likely to bolt if sown in October.
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Feb to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Aug Likely to bolt if sown in July and August.
- Mediterranean (Perth): Feb to Sep
Can you grow mizuna 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. Likely to bolt if sown in July and August.
When should I plant Mizuna in Alice Springs?
An autumn-winter Asian green here. Sow from March, with a repeat sowing in August, and watch for caterpillars.
What soil temperature do Mizuna need?
Mizuna germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 30°C.
How do I know when Mizuna are ready to harvest?
Baby leaf: 10-15cm tall (3-4 weeks). Full size: 30-40cm (5-7 weeks). Leaves should be bright green, fresh, and tender.
What are the best Mizuna varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Standard green mizuna.
What grows well with Mizuna?
Good companion plants for Mizuna include: Lettuce, Carrot, Radish.
Are mizuna salt tolerant?
Only a little. Mizuna are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it 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.