Topic: Leeks and winter

[Jesse]

Do leeks continue growing during winter or do they sit dormant in the ground? My leeks are still small and I'm wondering if they will be able to grow much more. Is there anything I should be doing with them other than just leaving them neglected out there in the cold.

[sandersj89]

They do continue to grow a little but the rate of growth is affected by temps. Milder winters will see more growth.

A light top dressing of fertilzer will help a little.

I plant leeks over a number of months to give a continous crop from Early September right through to April next year. I am pulling nice thick leeks now, carlton I think, and only finsihed planting pencil thin leeks a few weeks ago. I always seem to have to make some leek and potato soup in the spring to use them up prior to bolting.

Jerry

[tim]

Jerry - since varieties are available that come in from August - May, why the need for several sowings? Is it to avoid my problems? (Early Winter Veg).

Presumably you choose a very winter hardy strain? = Tim

[sandersj89]

Tim

I seem to prefer varieties such as Carlton, Musslburgh, Autumn Giant. In my rotation leeks tend to follow spuds, though now I have more space with the allotment I will need to review this.

Sucessive sowings of these seeds gives me:

A: A nice spread of cropping with leeks I like through the winter.

B: I believe a longer cropping season, working on the basis that the number of days to harvest from sowing is as important as choice of variety.

No real proof of point B but it seems to work for me!

Jerry

[Hot_Potato]

Can I just ask Sanders please......when you say 'a light top dressing of fertiliser' - can I use blood, fish & bone or should it be a granular fertiliser i.e. growmore?

Never quite sure if b.f. & b. is classed as an 'all purpose fertiliser'.

Maggie

[sandersj89]

Can I just ask Sanders please......when you say 'a light top dressing of fertiliser' - can I use blood, fish & bone or should it be a granular fertiliser i.e. growmore?

Never quite sure if b.f. & b. is classed as an 'all purpose fertiliser'.

Maggie

Maggie

I think you are fine. There are a number of variations around the same theme:

Hoof and Horn is a good feed if you are looking to encourage foliage, it is very high in nitogen. Therefore it will be good for onions, even lawns.

There is also Bone Meal, this is high in phosphate is is also ideal as a top dressing.

Finally there is Fish, blood and bone. This is more of a general purpose feed and very good as a general feed and to help establish shrubs. I thrown a hand full into the planting hole, mix it in with some organic matter and then plant the shrub. The phosphate encourages root growth and the nitrogen foliage.

Like all fertilizers a little goes a long way and too much can do as much harm as good.

HTH

Jerry

[tim]

Thanks, Jerry - and don't forget Leek Vinaigrette! = Tim

[Hot_Potato]

Thanks for that info Jerry - it probably explains why I've actually had such good produce generally (other than scaby skins on my Foremost potatoes - otherwise ok after scraping or peeling) in spite of late sowing/planting of everything.

I scattered some over the bare soil as I was actually digging for the first time either late last year or in the spring. Didn't realise however, that you could put B.F.& B. onto plants that were already in the ground. Let's hope my leeks grow into real whoppers!! - well maybe not too big!

Maggie