Topic: Over-wintering leeks - will they grow any more?

[Hyacinth]

 ???

thanks, Lishka

[artichoke]

I am rather wondering this too.....my leeks went in late and some of them are tiny. My impression is that they are fatter than when I last looked a week ago, but that may be in the eye of the beholder. I am confident of them fattening up a bit in the spring, but then it's a race to eat them before they bolt to flower.

[Columbus]

Hi Lishka, Hi all  :)

Some of my smaller ones have some bright green fresh growth in the centres, as opposed to the blue-green of the more mature leaves. So they are growing now. Is that a good thing?

Col

[Chris Graham]

I wondered this too as i over wintered my leeks, but they are still very small.

Was thinking of just lifting them and digging over the soil for the future crops.

[real food]

Yes, they grow in all the milder spells. To survive really cold and wet spells of weather, they need to be a winter hardy type of leek, such as Musselburgh.

[Hyacinth]

Mine are Musselburgh, went in late, and are (mostly) tiny - I've eaten the bigger ones - , so, thanks...I'll leave them for a bit & see what happens. Don't need the ground atm. Thanks all.

[Melbourne12]

I wonder if this is a common problem?  We're currently eating leeks of some unknown variety, bought as seedlings in a French market, but the Musselburgh that we sowed as seed look a bit like large spring onions!

[Mrs Ava]

They will continue to grow, but keep your eyes peeled as once spring starts springing, they will send up flowers.  I keep mine in until I start to see flowers, then I get the lot out.  If they do have a flower spike you loose many of the layers as you have a thick inedible flower stem up the middle of your leek, but if you take this out, the remainder is just fine.  I then chop and bag the leeks and chuck them in the freezer.

[kt.]

Mine are Musselburgh. Transplanted from boxes. They have remained small so I started eating them a couple of weeks ago. First year growing leeks & wasnt expecting as many roots. This year will put in the ground not boxes. Lesson learnt.

[manicscousers]

we grew them in rootrainers then transplanted when big enough , they had a fantastic root structure and grew very large, they were prizetaker  :)

[cornykev]

I've still got a dozen in, most are quite small, not that keen on them find them a bit bland any ideas to liven them up.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[RobinOfTheHood]

Mine are Musselburgh, still fattening up.....

and Kev, instead of onion gravy, try leek gravy with your Sunday lunch.

Or chop them into soldiers, drizzle em with olive oil and season before putting them into the oven for half an hour.   :)

[manicscousers]

leeks with cheese sauce, lovely :)

[cornykev]

Cheers Robin did you steal that idea from the rich, to give to me (the poor). :(     ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D   .Sorry don't like cheese. :'(

[manicscousers]

how about quiche, chopped leeks up very fine, with ham, then top with egg mix  :)

[cornykev]

Sounds nice scousers.      :P :P :P :P :P :-*

[Tee Gee]

Leeks (in my opinion) are very much a variety thing.

Leeks that are grown for 'blanching' don't fair as well through the winter months as 'pot leeks' do.

As far as growing further is concerned it is unlikely that 'blanch' leeks will increase in size, 'pot' leeks may grow a bit subject to ground conditions & temperature.

What we need is advice from someone in the Tyne & Wear area this is where all the champion growers reside.

This is my way; http://tinyurl.com/yaehy9

I had some with my dinner yesterday and they were 'boooootiful'!!!

[Spruance]

Sadly, and in some respects rather embarrassingly, I was also late getting my leeks in.  ::)

That said, they do appear to be still growing, and for as long as they are not 'in the way' they can stay where they are. I suspect that they might end up as leek soup though as the season progresses and growing space diminishes.

To think, in 2005, we had home grown leeks at Christmas. I really must try to be more organised this year.

[real food]

It has been a common complaint this year that the leeks were a bit slow to get started. I think that the reason was the long hot Summer and Autumn and the ground was too dry.

[angle shades]

also late getting mine in ::) musselburgh,

but don't like big leeks

put mine in a griddle pan with lemon juice , olive oil and black pepper, heaven :P / shades x