Mustard used to be a common cash crop in Whatcom County and BC…much less so now. Folks grew it for its seed which is a component of the yellow mustard we put on hot dogs.
The mustard family also includes cabbage, cauliflower, collards and other fashionable vegetable dishes.
The descriptor “black” refers to the color of the seed. Some mustard seed is yellow…some is red…some is brown…all depends on the kind of mustard plant.
After the blossoms dry out they will form seed pods, sort of like bean or pea pods, but smaller. Inside the pods are the tiny mustard seeds. A single plant can produce several hundred seeds…which is why the plant is found so commonly in vacant, unattended areas.
You can collect the dried seeds and prepare your own mustard by grinding the seed into a fine powder and adding mustard powder, beer, honey, and vinegar…or some variation on that theme.
A relative, which also grows here, is Field Mustard. Both plants are introduced from Europe. Field Mustard was not a cash crop but it was grown in gardens as an herb.
Black Mustard will grow up to three feet in height and is a fairly distinctive plant. Look for it at Village Point, up at the tree line on Franks Beach and around the ferry landing.
This plant was photographed last week on the west side beach.
Dal Neitzel