This species has been cultivated as a food crop for many hundreds of years and, in that time, several quite distinct forms have arisen. The nomenclature of these forms is confused, to say the least, and by no means universally accepted. We have followed the treatment used by GRIN, though it is very likely to be revised in the future[].

Common Name: WildTurnip

General Information

Field mustard is an annual tp biennial plant producing a cluster of basal leaves up to 20cm tall and then a flowering stem up to 100cm tall. It has a taproot that is not swollen and fleshy[].
Field mustard has both a wild and a cultivated form, the cultivated form being grownon a commercial scale, mainly for its oil-rich seeds, though it is also grown as a food and medicine in China[].

Known Hazards

The oil contained in the seed of some varieties of this species can be rich in erucic acid which is toxic. However, modern cultivars have been selected which are almost free of erucic acid.

Botanical References

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Range

Not known in a truly wild situation, possibly originally arising in northern and central Europe.

Habitat

Stream banks, arable and waste land[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Biennial
Height	0.90 m
Pollinators	Bees
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[]. Succeeds in any reasonable soil.
A good bee plant[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[]. Similar in taste to the garden turnip but a bit coarser[], the young roots can be grated and used in salads whilst older roots are best cooked and used as a vegetable[]. They are usually available from the autumn until early spring and can be left in the ground in all but the coldest winters[].
This form of the plant does not have a tuberous root[].

Leaves - raw or cooked. A strong radish/cabbage flavour. A bit on the coarse side, though the young leaves can be added in moderation to salads whilst older leaves make an acceptable vegetable[].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed, it is best when cold pressed[, ]. Some varieties are rich in erucic acid which can be harmful[].

Medicinal

The tuberous roots and seeds are considered to be antiscorbutic[]. A rather strange report, the leaves are much more likely to contain reasonable quantities of vitamin C than the roots or seeds[].
This form of the plant does not have a tuberous root[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A good green manure crop[]. Fast growing and quickly producing a good bulk, the leaves die down in severe winters.

Other Uses

The seed contains up to 45% of a semi-drying oil. It is used as a lubricant, luminant and in soap making[, , , , , ].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ from early spring for an oilseed crop to July. A late July sowing for green manure produces a worthwhile bulk to dig in during early autumn.