When to Plant Mibuna in Perth, Mediterranean Guide

Sow now in Mediterranean Soil 15.6°C, best 10–22°C

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.

Jump to section
  1. Planting calendar
  2. How to grow
  3. Local tips and varieties
  4. Pests and problems
  5. Harvesting
  6. Other zones and related crops
  7. Common questions

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This Mibuna 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
Mar to May, Sep to Oct
Days to harvest
25 days
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
20 cm apart
Soil pH
6.0–7.5

Mibuna is a fast-growing Japanese leafy green with long, narrow, smooth-edged leaves in a loose clump. It has a mild, slightly peppery flavour and is eaten raw in salads, stir-fried or added to soups.

Planting Calendar for Mediterranean

  • Jan -
  • Feb -
  • Mar D
  • Apr D
  • May D
  • Jun -
  • Jul -
  • Aug -
  • Sep D
  • Oct D
  • Nov -
  • Dec -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is sowing time?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Mediterranean zone right now, Mibuna included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

How to Grow Mibuna in Mediterranean Australia

Soil
Rich, fertile, moist, organic-rich well-drained loam
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 partial shade, at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun a day
Spacing
20cm apart, 25cm between rows
Watering
Water when the top few centimetres of soil are dry, early morning or late afternoon, and keep water off the leaves to limit fungal disease.
Good companions
Lettuce, Onion, Radish, Dill, Beetroot

Members see the exact salt threshold, how much harvest it loses as salt rises, and what to grow instead. See what members get

Mediterranean Growing Tips for Mibuna

Key Challenges

  • Cabbage White Butterfly: Caterpillars eat large ragged holes in leaves
  • Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars: Caterpillars consume foliage
  • Diamondback Moth: Caterpillars chew irregular holes, often creating 'windowpane' damage (eating one side of leaf leaving transparent membrane)
  • Diamondback moth caterpillars: Chewed leaves and small window-like holes

Pro Tips

  • Incorporate well-rotted compost into soil prior to planting; feed with a nitrogen-rich liquid organic fertiliser fortnightly to maintain rapid leaf growth
  • Apply a light organic straw mulch around plants to retain soil moisture and prevent dirt from splashing onto leaves

Pests and problems for Mibuna in Mediterranean

Members see each pest score and pest risk alerts for your area. See what members get

Browse the full pest library →

Harvesting Mibuna

When ready: Harvest baby leaves at 10 cm tall (approx. 21 days), or full clumps at 20 to 30 cm tall (approx. 40 to 50 days)

How to harvest: Snip outer leaves 2 to 3 cm above ground level for cut-and-come-again harvest, or harvest whole plant rosette

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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

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Common Questions About Mibuna

When do you plant mibuna in Australia?

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

Can you grow mibuna all year round in Perth?

No. In the Mediterranean zone the planting months are Mar to May, Sep to Oct. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

When should I plant Mibuna in Perth?

Sow direct from autumn through early spring in full sun; keep soil moist to encourage tender leaves.

What soil temperature do Mibuna need?

Mibuna germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 22°C.

How do I know when Mibuna are ready to harvest?

Harvest baby leaves at 10 cm tall (approx. 21 days), or full clumps at 20 to 30 cm tall (approx. 40 to 50 days)

What grows well with Mibuna?

Good companion plants for Mibuna include: Lettuce, Onion, Radish, Dill, Beetroot.

Are mibuna salt tolerant?

Only a little. Mibuna 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.