When to Plant Komatsuna in Perth, Mediterranean Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Perth), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Mediterranean
In October the Mediterranean zone normally runs 22°C by day and 10°C overnight, with about 38 mm of rain over 6 or 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 19 postcodes, SILO.
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This Komatsuna guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- All year
- Days to harvest
- 35 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 20 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
Komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) is a fast, mild leafy brassica that is ready in about 35 days and can be picked at any stage (Direct Compost Solutions).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Mediterranean
- Jan D
- Feb D
- Mar D
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun D
- Jul D
- Aug D
- Sep D
- Oct D
- Nov D
- Dec D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
You can sow komatsuna in any month in Mediterranean, but the months are not equal. Summer heat brings faster bolting and heavier pest pressure, so pick a heat tolerant variety, sow little and often, and give afternoon shade from December through February.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Komatsuna in Mediterranean Australia
- Soil
- Well drained soil with compost, pH 6.0 to 7.5 (Direct Compost Solutions).
- 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 to part shade (The Seed Collection, Direct Compost Solutions).
- Spacing
- 20cm apart, 40cm between rows
- Watering
- Moderate, steady water (Direct Compost Solutions).
- Good companions
- Lettuce, Carrot, Radish
- 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.
Mediterranean Growing Tips for Komatsuna
Recommended Varieties
- Komatsuna
Key Challenges
- Hot dry summer
Pro Tips
- Part shade in summer
Pests and problems for Komatsuna in Mediterranean
Harvesting Komatsuna
When ready: Any stage from baby leaf; full leaves about 30 cm long (Direct Compost Solutions).
How to harvest: Pick outer leaves and let the plant keep growing, or cut whole (Direct Compost Solutions).
Storing and preserving komatsuna
How to keep it
- Blanching and freezing. Blanch 2 minutes, cool, drain, pack (NCHFP). Keeps: 8-12 months.
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 Komatsuna
When do you plant komatsuna in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): all year
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): all year
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to May, Aug to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): all year
Can you grow komatsuna all year round in Perth?
Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Mediterranean zone, though not every month is equally easy. Sow direct in any month, as for temperate areas (Direct Compost Solutions), with the best sowings in early spring and mid autumn. Give part shade and steady water in the hot dry summer, when it bolts fastest. No Mediterranean source; this is the temperate advice applied here.
When should I plant Komatsuna in Perth?
Sow direct in any month, as for temperate areas (Direct Compost Solutions), with the best sowings in early spring and mid autumn. Give part shade and steady water in the hot dry summer, when it bolts fastest. No Mediterranean source; this is the temperate advice applied here.
What soil temperature do Komatsuna need?
Komatsuna germinate best when soil temperature is between 7°C and 23°C.
How do I know when Komatsuna are ready to harvest?
Any stage from baby leaf; full leaves about 30 cm long (Direct Compost Solutions).
What are the best Komatsuna varieties for Perth?
Recommended varieties for the Mediterranean zone include: Komatsuna.
What grows well with Komatsuna?
Good companion plants for Komatsuna include: Lettuce, Carrot, Radish.
Are komatsuna salt tolerant?
Only a little. Komatsuna 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 Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.