This is called . It is brilliant for the plant's survival (scattering seeds) but terrible for the farmer trying to harvest them.
This is the most stressful part of growing mustard. As the pods mature, they turn from green to tan to brown. At the "brown" stage, the pod becomes a loaded spring. The slightest touch—a gust of wind, a bird landing, a brush of your sleeve—can cause the pod to twist violently and explode, flinging seeds up to 10 feet away. mustard seeds growing
Mustard is primarily , which is a relief for the home gardener. Each flower contains both male (stamen) and female (pistil) parts. A slight breeze or a brush of an insect is enough to shake the pollen loose. This is called
Within two weeks, a plant that was a 4-inch rosette becomes a 3-to-5-foot tall shrub. The small seed becomes a "tree" (or at least, a very large herbaceous plant) where "birds of the air come and find shelter in its branches." As the pods mature, they turn from green to tan to brown