Pathetic Pak Choi

[Marb67]

Well, on the advise of sowing pak Choi late August I have managed to get some seedlings which I potted into small pots. I was hoping for a crop this Autumn but the seedlings are thin, wispy and pathetic. Why oh why oh why does this happen all the time with seedlings ?

[smallblueplanet]

Well, on the advise of sowing pak Choi late August I have managed to get some seedlings which I potted into small pots. I was hoping for a crop this Autumn but the seedlings are thin, wispy and pathetic. Why oh why oh why does this happen all the time with seedlings ?

They might recover and grow on when you pot them up.

[ameno]

I've noticed that brassica seedlings never do very well when kept in the same pot for too long. It's probably a fertiliser thing.
I've take to starting them in 3cm pots then repotting to 8cm pots at two true leaves. They seem to do much better that way than they did when I just raised them in 8cm pots from the start.

[Marb67]

These were recently potted into this larger pot from small modules.

[Jungle Jane]

It might happen because theres nine plants in a three inch pot? For baby leaves advice is to plant 8-10cm apart.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/pa.../grow-your-own

[ameno]

These were recently potted into this larger pot from small modules.

Well that's even worse, then. They need far more space. They should be in individual pots.

[Nicos]

Good link there JJ

Marb, I know you keep saying you’ve seen plenty of crowded plants growing successfully, but sorry, you clearly don’t have the experience to achieve that.
Plant according to the ‘norm’ for now, not what you think ought to survive. Then when you’ve had more success,maybe try pushing the boundaries at that point.
I love your enthusiasm but you are inviting failure or poor results by sticking to your guns on what you have seen achieved elsewhere.
We all want you to do well, so be kind to yourself.

[Marb67]

Well that's even worse, then. They need far more space. They should be in individual pots.

Well no because even if I potted them into individual pots their growth wouldn't be any faster.

[Nicos]

Marb, some plants don’t like their roots to be crowded, so it would have made a difference.

[Marb67]

Marb, some plants don’t like their roots to be crowded, so it would have made a difference.

OK, I'll give it a go in that case.

[smallblueplanet]

Why not do some research into the conditions the plants you are trying to grow like? Grow with the plant, don't try and force it to grow in conditions it doesn't grow well in. I can't understand why you are so adamant that things should grow in poor conditions just because you want them to. It's a waste of opportunity and a waste of time. Now you have to wait until next season for lots of things, give the plants a good chance give them the best growing conditions you can and accept you won't be growing enough to run a market stall.

[rary]

Well no because even if I potted them into individual pots their growth wouldn't be any faster.

Marb, possibly the best thing, though what I find is one of the hardest things to cultivate, is patience, I personally struggle with that

[Marb67]

Well here they are individually potted and even smaller 😞

[Jungle Jane]

I can’t see the photo if there was supposed to be one but when potted on plants shouldn’t get smaller,they could be putting lots of root growth down,then they can grow big & lush,hopefully that happens. They could have some nettle tea,seaweed or nitrogen feed once a month to help with growth.

[Marb67]

I did post an image which showed, but since yesterday it has vanished as this frustrating site failed to display a simple jpeg.