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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: newspud9 on July 27, 2010, 10:16:36
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I have been busy harvesting first year's efforts of spuds, carrots, courgettes - (and thanks to everyone for their previous advice which has helped me get this far) - so have been away from this site for a few months but come back with a typically "he must be kidding" type question........
I am planting out leeks (pencil thin) and have been told these need holes 6" deep and 2" diameter. Now, it doesnt matter how much (or little) I wet the soil, everytime I try to dig one of these out, the sides start collapsing. The soil structure is quite fine, no clay at all. Also, the only tool I have for digging these is a bulb planter, and that will do about 4" deep max and the diameter also ends up about 4", and I cant believe these are optimal dimensions for the leeks to grow in. Grateful for any advice on what others do to dig leek holes.
Many thanks.
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I use a dibber. I got mine in the 99p shop. I find I have to wet the soil thoroughly otherwise it falls straight back in, sometimes I have to dib several times. In the garden where the soil is less stoney I use a piece pruned off a buddleia bush. It had a nice flat end and a handle.
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Hi Newspud
Digeroo is right - a dibber is what you need! You can make your own using a broom handle or similar, and as digeroo says wet the soil so it doesn't collapse in to your hole!
What I do is trim the roots and tops of leaves - I take the roots back to about an inch long and the tops - just snip off the very top. This makes it easier for the plant to sit "down" in the hole - rather than wobbling around on a jumble of roots. The roots regrow quickly - so doesn't damage the plant. When you have popped the plant into the hole you puddle in water into the hole so that the surrounding soil falls round the plant and holds it in.
Good luck with it!
Ann
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I bought a spade/shovel handle to use as a dibber. Saves my back as you don't have to bend so much and it goes in easier. I push it in 6-8 inches. Pour water in round the dibber and work the handle round to push the soil against the sides. Drop the leek in and water again. I go along making the holes first, then go along dropping the plants in, then water again. My leeks do better since I adopted this method. Best of luck.
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Thanks for all your good advice - I knew I should have posted this earlier (i've already been struggling on my hands and knees doing 50 holes). Hopefully the next 50 will be a lot easier.
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There is a bit on 'dibbers' here; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Tools/Tools.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Tools/Tools.htm) although I have to admit my own dibber is the handle off an old spade /fork cut to a length that suits me!
n.b. click on pictures to enlarge!
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although I have to admit my own dibber is the handle off an old spade /fork cut to a length that suits me!
snap ;D
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stick dibber in water around it it stays then put leek in and water
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Following on from this question, if the holes don't fill themselves in fully after a few weeks, do you fill them up or just leave them? Mine are growing fine but are sitting in slight hollows.
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Leave them. ;D ;D ;D
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I have just been planting leeks like that! yes, water the ground first then when it is well soaked, push the instrument into the soil - i usually twist it round till the soil stays put around the hole. My tool is usually just a stick! or piece of bamboo. Then trim the leek roots and leaves and pop it in the hole. It doesn't have to be that deep. I usually earth up the leeks a bit as they grow, to get whiter leaves. Water well after planting. And Bob's your aunty!
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although I have to admit my own dibber is the handle off an old spade /fork cut to a length that suits me!
snap ;D
double snap, AND some lovely person in the past re-inforced mine with steel round the point, it goes in a dream.
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To quote the Two Ronnies : - "four candles"
Use the end of an old broken one.
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I use a a bulb planter. Can't use a dibber, as it hurts my elbow too much.
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My bulb planter was the biggest waste of money ever. It goies in okay but I can't get the dirt out of the middle. Have tried poking out with sticks, trowel etc but to no avail. Any ideas?
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I use a heavy iron rod pointed at one end (old hop growing implement) for leek planting because however hard and dry the ground is, it pushes straight in, nice and deep. If the ground is too friable, I can move the rod around in the hole until the soil is a bit compacted, and quickly drop the leek in before the edges crumble again. I have found wooden dibbers too lightweight.
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This being my first season with veg, I had to be shown how to use a dibber and plant the leeks. It has to be one ofmy favourite jobs. I think next time I'll trim the roots though, as they were often the trickiest part.
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dib dib dib ;D
I have an ancient victorian one that I use and it has different sizes at each end and I always secure my leeks with a bit of soil just to make sure nothing pulls them out of the ground easily
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I use a long wrecking bar. It's a little on the narrow side, but it makes holes as deep as I need.
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My bulb planter was the biggest waste of money ever. It goies in okay but I can't get the dirt out of the middle. Have tried poking out with sticks, trowel etc but to no avail. Any ideas?
Yeah, let the next hole push the previous dirt out.
I have 3; one for the lottie, one for the garden and one for the car. All my teachers in the schools that I work in [my main point of contact] will be receiving one for Christmas this year. ;D
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I tried that with a bulb planter, and the soil got more and more compacted till it wouldn't move at all. Maybe it depends on the soil.
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I had that problem with one of those lawn aerators that works the same way...doesn't work on heavy clay and of course that is the soil that needs aerating the most.
I find with lots of leeks to plant my dibber gives me blisters even wearing gloves.
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I use the handle of the rake I used to level the soil. Just turn it upside down and lean on the prongs to make the holes, it saves bending down with a dibber, less backache :)
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My bulb planter was the biggest waste of money ever. It goies in okay but I can't get the dirt out of the middle. Have tried poking out with sticks, trowel etc but to no avail. Any ideas?
The earth core from the first hole gets pushed out as you push the planter into the soil to make the second one, and carry on down the row :)
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I'm with gypsy using the back of a rake (or hoe). Quick, cheap and made for the job. The handle can be turned until the hole stays together. Then pop in the leek, fill hole with water and job done. :icon_cheers:
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I used a pencil :happy7:
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I find that the dibber compacts the ground too much too. Now I just use a spade. Put the spade in vertically to a whole spade depth, rock back and forth to create a V shaped narrow hole, move to the side and continue along the row. Then place the leeks in at regular intervals and water the sides of the V to knock enough soil off the sides to cover the roots. The only problem with this way is that sometimes the leeks fall over sideways and get buried, it's better to water them in while holding them up with the other hand ... but even if they fall over they normally push themselves upright in a few weeks.
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I use a dibber made from a spade handle but when I was a garden boy parsnips and leeks were planted in large holes made with a pitcher. Last time before we moved our cat thought each leek needed to be watered in.!! :BangHead:
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Now on the no-dig regime, the leeks followed broad beans. With the compost layer down to 25mm, simply took the (otherwise resting*) digging fork, plunged in to full depth 150mm and wriggled sideways a little. Because the plan is big leeks(?), then planted a trimmed leek into every other tine hole, that's about 100mm centres. Eased in to depth, 100mm approx with a pencil sized cane. Watered in.
They will be lightly earthed up in early September.
* It is likely to be used to ease out the crop, but not digging!
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i use no dig just use my finger
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I never bother with the hole and dibber method. Stick spade in ground, lever a wedge out, drop in leek and take spade out... like foresters plant trees. Farmers around here do much the same mechanically and they grow huge leeks...like me!
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I use a dibber made from a spade handle but when I was a garden boy parsnips and leeks were planted in large holes made with a pitcher. Last time before we moved our cat thought each leek needed to be watered in.!! :BangHead:
Same here (minus the cat :glasses9: - I go and fill the wholes with water from a watering can, no earth needed )
I broke a fork with a wooden handle a long time ago. The D-grip and a tapered end on the wood makes for a very useful planting tool. Drive in and pull out straight for leeks, drive in and rotate for wider planting holes for tomato or squash plants. I guess you'd have to water first on sandy soil or the hole will immediately fill itself. :wave:
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I use a piece cut off a buddleia bush. It is the shape of a large catapult or slingshot. The arms can be wound round to make the hole.
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I usually use a dibber but have taken note the comment from squeezyjohn and will try another way next year
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Now on the no-dig regime, the leeks followed broad beans. With the compost layer down to 25mm, simply took the (otherwise resting*) digging fork, plunged in to full depth 150mm and wriggled sideways a little. Because the plan is big leeks(?), then planted a trimmed leek into every other tine hole, that's about 100mm centres. Eased in to depth, 100mm approx with a pencil sized cane. Watered in.
They will be lightly earthed up in early September.
* It is likely to be used to ease out the crop, but not digging!
Photo 30/09/17