[hubballi]

My vegetables seem to defy nature and grow smaller than they started out initially. For instance, I planted some curly Kale and bright lights chard in an old metal container with fresh compost (identical to the old antique baby bath container in my container veg gardening book) They started out brilliant and had big healthy leaves. I continued to feed them through the season as advised. They bolted in the hot weather so (as Monty Don advised) cut them back later in the season. They are now (like every other year's) very small and pathetic, despite having given them a boost of poultry manure.

Again (as always) a case of doing all the right things and still crappy growth  

[Ice]

Again (as always) a case of doing all the right things and still crappy growth  

Either you are NOT doing all the right things or you are cursed.  My money is on the former.

[hubballi]

I have explained EXACTLY what I have done so where have I gone wrong?

[BabbyAnn]

I'm not a fan of container growing as they actually need a lot more work than you realise.  Warm weather doesn't actually cause bolting but stress, usually when the soil has been allowed to go dry during hot weather will trigger it.

However, I'm inclined to think you have inadvertently grown a bonsai plant - the plant has basically got pot bound (roots too big for the pot so unable to absorb nutrients and water effectively) and probably the real reason for the chard bolting.  Once a plant starts to throw up seed heads, personally I think it's time to toss it into the compost bin and start afresh next year.

Also, consider the time of year - it's autumn and plant growth is simply coming to an end so no amount of manure or fertiliser is going to revive it.  So put all of the above together, probably the reasons why your chard is getting smaller.

[DD.]

Once a plant starts to throw up seed heads, personally I think it's time to toss it into the compost bin and start afresh next year.

Can't argue with that one!

[allotmentann]

 Certainly as others have said container growing is not the perfect way to grow veg and the time of year means things are slowing down but perhaps you are trying too many things and a little neglect might help. I grew my chard (Bright  lights) from seed this spring, planted on part of my plot that had been covered for many years - did nothing to prepare the soil other than remove weed roots and glass and have done not a thing since and they are huge, big, healthy plants. I find that most things (rhubarb excluded! ) grow inspite of me! Sometimes I think we should let things be a bit more. It is easy when you think there is a problem to start doing this, feeding that, repotting, giving more water etc and unless you are certain why the plant is unhappy you may actually be making the problem worse. Plants have it built into them to grow, flower, set seed, reproduce and in nature do it all the time without any intervention from us. So perhaps if doing things is not working, stop doing things and see if they recover all by themselves

[savbo]

Again (as always) a case of doing all the right things and still crappy growth  

Either you are NOT doing all the right things or you are cursed.  My money is on the former.

my money is on the latter. Hubb has a history inexplicable by modern science, so it's either him that's cursed or his garden is on an old Cheshire Indian Burial ground.

Or he has a neighbour who is systematically ruining everything he tries to do, sneaking in at night to replace plants, weedkill crops and trim the edges off chard leaves...

sav

modified - Hubballi, hope this is seen as gentle fun, I do sympathise with your frustration and admire your determination. Hang in there

[willp]

Must admit that my chard has also been a bit weird last couple of years. Plants weak and sickly looking with not much growth. I think it must be a variety unsuited to my plot (can`t remember which, but is green with a prominent white stem).

At a loss to explain why otherwise  - beets in same bed have been excellent, part of a rotation, appropriately prepared etc. etc.

I only really grow it cos my wife loves it.

Perhaps it picks up on my ambivalent vibes.

Now i`ve used up the packet I`ll try a different variety

Will

[viettaclark]

As said before, growth has slowed right down for the winter. I have cut mine back too and you will be pleasantly surprised next spring when you get LOADS of lush, healthy leaf before it starts flowering.
Then it's time to sow more......

[viettaclark]

And can I add that the same can be done with perpetual (beet leaf) spinach.
Cut back and you'll get a good flush of new growth in the spring then it will flower.
Sow more in Feb/March and you get a year-round crop of chard and spinach.
Luvverly!