Garlic mustard is in the family of the Brassicaceae (cabbage family).

It is an annual plant that reseeds itself. It behaves like a perennial.

Here in zone 5, the plan produces a lot of seeds in Summer. In fall the seeds that fell in the ground sprout. The plant grow close to the ground in fall and survive through the winter.

In spring, it resumes growth and grows tall and produces seeds in summer.The plant dies back after the seeds dry. I would say wild mustard is a biennial.

My first year of gardening in our backyard, I planted Tatsoi mustard. It was my second time planting it. I planted it the first time in a rental duplex and saved my own seeds which I planted when we moved to our house. They grew well in my front yard. I let them go to seed. The third year I planted them, they didn’t do well. I like Tatsoi mustard. The first two times I tried to grow cultivated mustard, wild mustard grew at the edge of my property. I only cut them down after they seeded. Weeding them after their seeds were dry just made them grow back even more the following year. Not knowing the wild plant, I took a plant to our University Extension where I learned it was wild mustard. The gentleman told me they are invasive and I should weed them out of my garden. So I went online and searched about it and found out it is edible.

How would I battle with this wild plant when I couldn’t get the cultivated cousin to grow in my care free , maintenance free garden?

 

I harvested the leaves that year and used in my cooking. I am sure my neighbor would have wonder why I regularly came out with a bowl to harvest leaves from this wild plant. After they seeded, I sprayed the seeds in my garden. Before, they were on one side of the property.

Last year 2018, they grew more aggressively. That is when I knew I went too far throwing the seeds in the garden. I harvested the leaves for cooking. I also froze leaves in few gallon zip bags for use in winter. I add the leaves to my stew, stir fry, and my ground beef garlic mustard sandwich. I didn’t let them go to seeds much last year. I regularly cut their top off. I would see how they would come back this spring. I purchased Tatsoi mustard seeds last year and planted. I just like their shape. Unfortunately, they didn’t grow. I don’t even remember if I really planted them. I was very satisfied with the abundance of greens I got from wild mustard on my property. I didn’t have to water or weed them. Deer nor bunnies bothered them. I am glad I welcome it in my garden instead of seeing it as a nuisance. Edible weeds are strong and fierce plants. Including them in our diet may help our body benefit from not only their loaded nutrients and vitamins but also their tenacity and vigor. Garlic mustard seeds can be harvested and used as mustard seeds for spices or to sprout although I have not tried that yet. The leaves can be used in cooking or sauteing. Their  flowers can be added to salad. Garlic mustard is said to be toxic to most animals but birds if consumed in large quantity. Studies show that wild mustard could upset stomach if consumed in large quantity. However, it is proven to help digestion as well.