When to Plant Mizuna in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

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

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

This Mizuna guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs 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.

Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.1°C (optimal range: 10–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

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

How to Grow Mizuna in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

September-May. Grows well through Melbourne's cool seasons. Too cold for germination June-August.

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

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Mizuna

Recommended Varieties

  • Standard green mizuna
  • Purple mizuna

Key Challenges

  • Slow growth in cold winters
  • Slugs in wet weather

Pro Tips

  • Mizuna is one of the hardiest Asian greens for Melbourne gardens
  • Cold weather slows growth but doesn't kill plants
  • A great addition to winter salad mixes

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 cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

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 Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Mar to Jun. 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.