GrowSabzHow to grow tatsoi in pots
Also called Spoon Mustard, Rosette Bok Choy, Tat Choy, spoon mustard · Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa
تاتسوئی
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 4–6hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 0.4 Levery 2 days, 5 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 10–21°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 5 L15 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 21–45days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 1 kgper 20 L pot
Tatsoi is one of the fastest things you can grow — roughly 30 days from sowing to harvest. That makes it forgiving of mistakes, because a failed sowing costs you weeks rather than a season, and it's a good crop to slot between slower ones.
Short answer
Grow tatsoi in a 5 litre container at least 15 cm deep, watering about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil every 2 days, and keep temperatures between 10 and 21 °C. First harvest comes 21–45 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does tatsoi need?
5 litres and 15 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 | 15 cm | Use pots with drainage |
| Grow bag | 5 L | 15 cm | Fabric breathes well |
| Open ground | — | 15 cm | Space well |
| Raised bed | 10 L | 20 cm | Deep soil helps root development |
Watering
How often should you water tatsoi?
Every 2 days through the growing season, at about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — daily in hot weather, every 4 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Drip irrigation or gentle watering at base works best.
Too little water
- wilting
- bitter taste
- bolting
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- stunted growth
- root rot
Avoid: overhead watering (can promote disease); letting soil dry out completely.
Climate
Can you grow tatsoi 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 | 7 °C — best at 18 °C, about 7 days |
| Flowers drop | above 25 °C, or below -5 °C |
| Sunlight | 4–8 hrs/day, best 6 |
| Frost | Low 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 tatsoi? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Tatsoi 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 tatsoi
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 tatsoi 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. Tatsoi wants about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 25 °C, or below -5 °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 Tomato
Can stunt the growth of brassicas like Tatsoi due to differing nutrient needs and potential allelopathic effects.
Companions
What to plant with tatsoi
Good neighbours
Shades the soil, keeping roots cool and moist, which can extend the harvest of both plants.
Similar growth requirements and can be interplanted to maximize space and yield.
Fast-growing, can be harvested before Tatsoi matures, loosening the soil and making space.
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps that prey on aphids and cabbage worms.
Repels nematodes and other soil-borne pests, improving soil health for Tatsoi.
Keep apart from
Can stunt the growth of brassicas like Tatsoi due to differing nutrient needs and potential allelopathic effects.
Both are heavy feeders and compete for nutrients, potentially leading to reduced yields for both.
Can stunt the growth of brassicas. Also, pole beans can shade out low-growing Tatsoi.
Known to inhibit the growth of many plants, including brassicas.
Problems
Tatsoi 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 and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing distorted growth. Can transmit viruses.
Flea Beetles humidity any · temp 18-28
Tiny, jumping beetles that chew small, round holes in leaves, especially on young seedlings. Severe infestations can stunt growth.
Cabbage Worms humidity any · temp 18-30
Green caterpillars that chew large, irregular holes in leaves, often leaving behind dark green droppings. Can quickly defoliate plants.
Slugs Snails humidity >70% · temp 10-20
Leave irregular holes in leaves and silvery slime trails. Most active in damp, cool conditions, especially on young, tender leaves.
Downy Mildew humidity >85% · temp 10-20
Yellowish spots on the upper surface of leaves, with fuzzy gray or purplish mold on the undersides. Can cause leaves to wilt and die.
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.
Bolting humidity any · temp >25
Premature flowering stalk development, often triggered by warm temperatures or stress. Leaves become bitter and tough.
Harvest
When to harvest tatsoi
First picking falls between day 21 and day 45, and the plant then keeps producing for about 30 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Rosettes are full and leaves are tender
- Outer leaves are 4-6 inches long
How much to expect
Storing it: Refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to 1 week
Questions
Tatsoi: common questions
How long does tatsoi take to grow?
About 30 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 21 and day 45. It then keeps producing for roughly 30 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does tatsoi need?
At least 5 litres and 15 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 10 litres of soil and 20 cm of depth.
How often should I water tatsoi?
About 600 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 2 days in normal weather — daily when it is hot and every 4 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does tatsoi need?
It does best between 10 °C and 21 °C and survives from -5 °C to 27 °C. Seed needs soil above 7 °C to germinate, ideally around 18 °C.
Can I grow tatsoi 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 tatsoi is ready to harvest?
Rosettes are full and leaves are tender; Outer leaves are 4-6 inches long. Once picked: refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to 1 week
How much does one tatsoi 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.