Sinapis alba

Senape bianca (Sinapis alba) — annuale a crescita rapida per semi di senape dal gusto delicato, foglie piccanti per insalata e uno dei migliori sovesci per migliorare il terreno.
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Sinapis alba — white mustard

Sinapis alba, known as white or yellow mustard, is a fast-growing annual valued on two fronts: as the source of mild mustard seeds and peppery salad leaves, and as one of the very best green manures for improving soil. It sits within both our mustard range in the culinary herb collection and our green manures.

History & origin

White mustard is native to the Mediterranean basin and has been cultivated since antiquity for its pungent seeds. The Romans ground it into a paste — an early ancestor of the table mustard we know today — and it spread throughout Europe as both a condiment crop and, in time, a trusted soil-improving cover crop on farms and in gardens.

Its name comes from the Latin sinapis, the classical word for mustard, while alba (“white”) refers to the pale, sandy-coloured seeds that set it apart from black and brown mustards.

Botanical characteristics

White mustard is a quick, upright annual reaching 40–80 cm, with lobed green leaves and bright yellow four-petalled flowers loved by bees, followed by bristly seed pods. It grows with remarkable speed, which is exactly what makes it such an effective green manure — smothering weeds and building soil structure. As a fast annual it sits among our annual herbs as well as our soil-building cover crops.

Growing Sinapis alba from seed

White mustard could not be simpler to grow. For salad leaves or seed, sow in spring and summer in full sun. As a green manure, broadcast the seed thickly over bare soil, rake in lightly and water — it germinates within days. Dig the leafy growth back in before it flowers to return nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Our herb growing guide and herb sowing calendar cover timing and care in full.

Ready to grow white mustard? Explore the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Mustard · Green Manures · Culinary Herbs · Annual Herbs · All Herb Seeds

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Che cos'è Sinapis alba?
È il nome botanico della senape bianca (gialla), coltivata sia per i suoi semi di senape dal gusto delicato e le foglie pepate, sia come rapido sovescio. Come si usa la senape bianca come sovescio?
Spargere il seme abbondantemente sul terreno nudo, rastrellare leggermente e innaffiare. Interrare la massa fogliosa prima che fiorisca per arricchire il terreno. La senape bianca si può mangiare?
Sì. Le foglie giovani aggiungono un tocco piccante alle insalate, e i semi chiari vengono usati per produrre senape dal gusto delicato. Quanto velocemente cresce?
Molto velocemente. Germina in pochi giorni e cresce rapidamente, il che la rende eccellente per soffocare le erbe infestanti e migliorare la struttura del terreno.