GrowSabzHow to grow stock in pots
Also called Gillyflower, matthiola, stock flower, shabbo · Matthiola incana
اسٹاک
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 6–8hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 0.4 Levery 2 days, 5 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 10–21°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 5 L20 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 70–90days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 1 kgper 20 L pot
Stock keeps producing once it starts. First picking comes around day 70, and the plant then crops for roughly 45 more days — but only if you keep picking. Blooms left on the plant is a signal to stop making more.
Short answer
Grow stock in a 5 litre container at least 20 cm deep, watering about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil every 2 days, and keep temperatures between 10 and 21 °C. First harvest comes 70–90 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does stock need?
5 litres and 20 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 5 L | 20 cm | Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. |
| Grow bag | 5 L | 20 cm | Fabric bags provide excellent aeration and drainage. |
| Open ground | — | 25 cm | Plant in well-drained soil, spacing plants 15-30 cm apart. |
| Raised bed | 10 L | 25 cm | Ideal for providing excellent drainage and soil control. |
Watering
How often should you water stock?
Every 2 days through the growing season, at about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — daily in hot weather, every 3 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Water at soil level or bottom watering works best.
Too little water
- wilting
- stunted growth
- leaf yellowing
Too much water
- yellowing lower leaves
- stem rot
- root rot
- fungal issues
Avoid: overhead watering; soggy soil; allowing soil to dry out completely.
Climate
Can you grow stock where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 10 – 21 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -5 – 27 °C |
| Germinates above | 15 °C — best at 18 °C, about 10 days |
| Flowers drop | above 27 °C |
| Sunlight | 6–10 hrs/day, best 8 |
| Frost | Medium sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 27 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for stock? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Stock growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for stock
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why stock fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 5 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Stock wants about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 27 °C flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Planting it beside Cabbage
As a member of the Brassica family, planting with other brassicas increases the risk of shared pests (e.g., cabbage worms, flea beetles) and diseases (e.g., clubroot, black rot).
Companions
What to plant with stock
Good neighbours
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps, which prey on common pests such as aphids.
Roots produce a chemical that kills root-knot nematodes, and flowers repel other harmful insects.
Acts as a trap crop for aphids, drawing them away from stock plants. Also deters some beetles.
Shares similar growing conditions and provides complementary aesthetic appeal, enhancing garden beauty.
Keep apart from
As a member of the Brassica family, planting with other brassicas increases the risk of shared pests (e.g., cabbage worms, flea beetles) and diseases (e.g., clubroot, black rot).
Similar to cabbage, broccoli is a brassica and can attract the same pests and diseases, leading to competition and increased vulnerability for both plants.
Produces substances from its roots that inhibit the growth of many nearby plants, including stock.
Problems
Stock pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth, flower buds, and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing distorted growth and sticky honeydew.
Flea Beetles humidity any · temp >18
Tiny, jumping beetles that chew small, round holes in leaves, giving them a 'shot-hole' appearance. Can severely damage young plants.
Cabbage Worms humidity any · temp 18-30
Green caterpillars (imported cabbageworm, cabbage looper) that chew large, irregular holes in leaves and flowers, leaving behind frass.
Downy Mildew humidity >80% · temp 10-20
Causes yellow or pale green spots on the upper surface of leaves, with fuzzy gray or purplish growth on the undersides. Leads to leaf drop.
Powdery Mildew humidity 50-70% · temp 20-27
White, powdery fungal spots appear mainly on the upper surface of leaves. Causes leaves to yellow and die off prematurely.
Root Rot humidity any · temp any
Caused by overwatering or poor drainage, leading to yellowing leaves, wilting, stunted growth, and eventually plant death. Roots become soft and brown.
Clubroot humidity any · temp 18-25
A soil-borne disease specific to Brassicas, causing swollen, distorted roots, leading to wilting, stunted growth, and yellowing leaves. Can persist in soil for years.
Botrytis Blight humidity >85% · temp 18-24
Also known as gray mold, it causes fuzzy gray patches on flowers, buds, and leaves, especially in cool, humid conditions. Can lead to flower and stem rot.
Harvest
When to harvest stock
First picking falls between day 70 and day 90, and the plant then keeps producing for about 45 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Most florets on the stem are open, but a few at the top are still buds.
How much to expect
Storing it: Place cut stems in water immediately and store in a cool, dark place or refrigerator (4-7°C) for up to a week.
Questions
Stock: common questions
How long does stock take to grow?
About 100 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 70 and day 90. It then keeps producing for roughly 45 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does stock need?
At least 5 litres and 20 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 10 litres of soil and 25 cm of depth.
How often should I water stock?
About 700 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 2 days in normal weather — daily when it is hot and every 3 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does stock need?
It does best between 10 °C and 21 °C and survives from -5 °C to 27 °C. Seed needs soil above 15 °C to germinate, ideally around 18 °C.
Can I grow stock in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -5 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when stock is ready to harvest?
Most florets on the stem are open, but a few at the top are still buds.. Once picked: place cut stems in water immediately and store in a cool, dark place or refrigerator (4-7°c) for up to a week.
How much does one stock plant produce?
Roughly 1 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 2 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.