Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: marjrie on March 18, 2006, 15:32:26
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As this is our first year with an allotment, and growing veg at all have been reading lots on here, thanks.
We have started some leeks in the conservatory, most have germinated but to me they look like longish blades of grass, is this how they should look?
I know they have a long growing season but don't know how to tell if they are healthy or should be planting some more later?
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;D
Hi marjrie! Yup. baby leeks look just like grass at first, they come up like shepherds crooks and "unbend" then sit there looking like they are doing nothing. Gradually they will get thicker, and they are planted out when they are pencil thickness. It's my first proper year too...exciting isn't it?!!
;)
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Allotment newbie too.
Could I ask when you planted your leeks. Mine have been sat in their cells for two weeks now and diddly squat seems to be happening?! How long should they take to appear? ???
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Just had a quick look, sowed mine in pots on February 17th and they are now about 3inches tall, no idea if this is normal, but they look ok. Sowed celeriac at roughly the same time and thay have taken ages to do anything!! Patience is the key...or at least, that's what proper grown up allotmenteers keep telling me!!!!
;)
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I shall cease panicing then! Every thing else coming up including melons and chilis. Cheers for the response :)
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How I love to see enthusiasm!! ;D
You chaps have beaten me off the mark!! Only done toms inside so far.
One thing I have determined to do this year is to keep a log of when sown, when germinated, when put outside to harden off, and when planted out etc etc etc ;)
Then next year I won't fee so impatient :o
... well that's the theory anyway ;)
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Thanks for that, at least I know my blades of grass will eventually become thicker.
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Sowed mine on Feb 13th and they are only just showing their little hoops - but are in my cold frame on my balcony and boy it's been cold out there (but not frozen). Think like most things it depends on temperature, they will take their own good time and be fine.
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Hi, I'm a newby too and my leeks are just beginning to poke through the soil and they are in an unheated greenhouse and some are outside on the patio in on of those portable plastic covered shelving racks. They are only in small modules though and I'm a bit worried they will outgrow their present home before being ready to out on the plot, will they be okay?
Helen
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don't worry helenclare, the leeks will be happy in there for a very long time. they won't outgrow the space....they grow bigger when they get more room, ie when you plant them out. wait till they're pencil thickness, harden them off, then bung 'em in and they'll shoot off.
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This will be my first attempt at growing leeks so I think I will get some seeds in this week. I have an unheated greenhouse where I can grow them until pencil thickness but what size pot should I start them off in please? I imagine a seed tray could be too hollow so should I use 4inch pots and if so, how many seeds should I put in each one. Will I need to transplant into further pots before putting them outside? Your help with this dilemma is much appreciated.
Pauline
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I just sprinkle a packet of seeds per seed tray or find a piece of spare ground of this size and sprinkle your seeds there. The leeks have been happy with no problems up till June, that's when I transplant them to their final position
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i use multi-cell trays...the smallest size. 4inch pots sounds rather extravagant
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I've used ice cream cartons and a few plastic mushroom containers with holes in the bottom, they are nice and deep.
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I started mine off in a seed tray last year but was warned that it might be difficult to separate the tangle of roots when it came to transplanting them.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/meatpaste/DSCF0100.jpg)
I eventually used a dibber to make holes in the ground, separated the roots by dipping them in a bucket of water, trimmed the roots after reading of the method on here (although I had my doubts) and they all grew into fine specimens. I have to say however that I have no intention of doing a thing round here till the weather warms up!
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I tend to hold back a bit and plant mine in the soil in about another three weeks. If I don't do this I find they get too big before I have got their final growing space cleared of new potatoes.
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I chucked three seed packets (Mussleburgh, Carentan and Poristo) into three washing up bowls a third filled with compost and then put 1cm of compost over the top. They are currently sitting inside plastic bags on top of my garden shed. I read the thing about them getting tangled as well but as you can cut of the roots of leeks with no ill effect, do not think it will matter too much.
Sown yesterday btw.
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Perhaps this is a bit late to say but here goes ...
there are THREE types of leek. :o Earlies, mid-season and lates.
The earlies are those that you can grow as minis or pencil thins, using varieties such as Zermatt or Jolant. Harverst July onwards, they can also be planted out in the usual manner for a longer season.
Mid season seem to be more the F1 varieties such as Prizewinner for obvious reasons ;D Harvest Aug to Oct.
The lates include the Scottish Musselburgh that storm through the winter and will harvest Nov through to Feb.
... think I have just convinced my self to grow at least two varieties, cos the family likes leeks ;)
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I've planted 4 varieties (always prone to excess! ;D) St Victor, Colossal, Poristo and Musselburgh. The Musselburgh are proving by far the slowest to germinate - I assume as they are late and therefore slower growing. Either that or old seed - feel the packet has been lurking in my box for some time!
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Hooray I do believe we are nearly all in acton at last. What a cold miserable spell. Am about to sow my leeks.
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Alimo looks frantically at seed box - :o no leeks !!!! oh oh - this means I have to buy some more seed, and I simply can not come away with just one packet !
Alison
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There was a thread a while ago stating that Musselburg (excuse spelling) had problems rotting in the core when over wintered. As a result I haven't bought any musselburgh seed.
Can anyone say if they've had any problems along these lines? Or if you didn't have problems? What were your practices to avoid the rot etc? (I feel like I'm setting an exam paper!) :-[
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I had no problems with Musselburgh this winter. Just got 6 more to pull then that's it .
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Snap periwinkle, I'm down to the last 7 mussles now :'(
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Careful, you'll pull a mussel.
Bwahh haah hah boom boom.
Sorry. I'll get me coat.
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only 3 left for me but seed is sown and it,s on it,s way ;D
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I had a good crop of mussleburgh this year no problems with rot. Leeks are one of the crops that i dont worry that much about. I sow them quite thickly into a large pot and they stay in it until time to transplant then they go into dibbed holes, watered and pretty much left. They have survived the cold spell perfectly well. love leeks me. :)
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I had some rust but no rot. Still eating them (out the freezer though)
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Is there any reason why I shouldn't put an individual seed (or maybe two) into each cell of a tray of 24 cells?.....was thinking that if I did it this way...they'd have more space, the roots wont get tangled and it would save me having to transfer to a bigger tray before planting out.
Once they've grown to a reasonable size and the time is right, I'll just be able to take each one and plant out in the ground....or isn't this the right way to do it?
I've not grown leeks before - have bought Musselburgh. 24 plants will definitely be enough for me!
What do you think please....H.P.
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I did that last year but I only got one tray up to a decent size. I have gone for the chuck 'em all in together method so I get more out the other end. Somebody said something about them liking their soild quite deep too.
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Sorry to have to ask another question about the leek seed...I've just this minute sown a small trayful (about 2 1/2" deep - the tray I mean, not sown the seed that deep ;)) hope that's deep enough - it's the average size of seed trays I think!.....firmed the compost down first then covered slightly with more compost & watered well.
I've got access to an unheated greenhouse (not mine) which is a couple of hundred yards away from me and wonder if.....once I've put the tray out there (presumably uncovered as they're hardier) will I have to water them anymore on a regular basis??
sorry if question seems stupid but not grown them before & not used to growing things from seed! (unless it's straight in the ground)
alternatively, can I leave this seed tray out on my small patio area & if so, will it need covering?
Thanks - H.P.
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Hot Potato, there is no advantage to sowing leeks in cells as most people want them for eating purposes not for showing so just sow them about 1/4 inch deep in a seed tray, which now by your other posting that I see you have done, it will be an advantage to start them of in the unheated greenhouse, better in a propagator if you had one,as to the question of leaving them uncovered I would be very tempted to cover the tray with a piece of glass or polythene until they have germinated.
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Hate to put a damper on things, but has anyone been affected (their leeks that is) by the allium fly. Our allotments were badly affected last year and crops were badly damaged. It seems to come in two waves. I have heard that fleecing might help. but otherwise dont quite know what is best.
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oh dear - seem to have 'lost' the message I thought I'd just sent:'(
Thank you Richard - decided not to sow in cells (as advised) and yes, seeds are now in one of those little propagator thingys from Wilko's...(seed tray with lid) so I can 'put a lid on it' ;)
will put them in the greenhouse as advised - thanks.
H.P.
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This is how my leeks are looking now, had them outside in a coldframe, they still look like blades of grass to me!
Do they look ok to all you experienced leek growers please?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/marjrie/leeks.jpg)
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oops! planted mine in florists buckets. theyre doing fine but what a waste of compost!!
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Don't worry weedbusta, when you plant out the leeks, you can recycle the compost, I do this all the time ...
Marjrie, my leeks have not even appeared yet, and they are very slow growing anyway. I would not expect them to be pencil size until about june ... planting out permanently anytime after that - in my case into cleared new potato beds in july.
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Those are fine; mine aren't even in yet.
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Those are fine; mine aren't even in yet.
Thank you, very new to this so not sure how they should look. :)
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there are THREE types of leek. Earlies, mid-season and lates.
What about pot leeks ???
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What in people's opinion is the best early. BTW I grow on alkaline limestone - quite well draining.
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I always plant them straight in the ground, then transplant them later.
If the roots are all tangled together dip them in some water for a few seconds - they're a lot easier to get apart then. I think this also helps them to root properly as the roots all stay together and dont spread up the sides of the hole as you plant them.
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What in people's opinion is the best early
I'm on alkaline stony clay and "King Richard" grows very well for me
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my leeks look pretty much like marjrie's in the picture, only they aren't all standing up so well in their ice cream container with holes in the bottom.
this is my first time wth leeks as well. they were planted on march 3 and 16.
later, how close together can i plant them in containers? my seeds are 'tropita' and it says the rows should be 50cm and the plants should be 15 cm apart. i know this question is really more on how to convert a seed packet measurement to a bed not row arrangement, any help appreciated.
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Hello, I'm new to all this. Am I too late to plant leeks for this year? I'm not bothered about earlies, but would like to be able to harvest some in the autumn. And when should I be sowing the over wintering kind?
Thanks
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No, you're not too late at all greenstar. I've got a packet of Autumn Mammoth and it says sow from March to April. Before I got my greenhouse I didn't sow anything at all untill the Easter weekend and I have never had any problems with the stuff I grow.
Don't be put off by people who have started theirs off weeks ago - there is still plenty of time.
I've lost plants in the past because I put them out too soon - never again.
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Mine are well up now, took about a fortnight or so in an unheated greenhouse; sowed into compost in pots, just on the staging. I water the compost, sow and cover, then don;t water again until they show through well. Two varieties this year, Bleu de Solaise, which turns purplish in the cold weather and a golden yellow/green variety whose name ecapes me; from Vida Verde, who say they look good grown together. If I do, won't be able to save seed as they will probably cross and end up a really strange colour next year ;D
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Hiya luath,
I also got mine from Vida Verde.... Blue de Solaise and the 'others'. Keep us posted as to how yours are coming along, I've started my blue ones both in a seed tray then planted them out and straight into the ground. I'm hoping one way works!
Jon
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Hi All,
I have used 7" pots for starting off my leeks, Musselburgh and Alabana, fill the pot to within an inch of the top, sprinkle 50 to 100 seeds, cover with 1/2 inch compost & water and put in a frost free greenhouse (straight outside last 2 years) they germinated after 2 weeks this year.
I'll grow them on and put them outside when i need the space in the greenhouse then when they are pencil thick transplant into their final positions. I just plant them like any other plant and they are quite happy just dib a deep hole 6" or so, drop in the leek, water the hole and cover the hole and earth up the stem an inch or two.
I find using a large pot means that they are easy to remove from the pot, lay it on the ground on its side where you’re going to plant them, tap the bottom and side and the pot should slide off no problem. The roots are nice and log and it’s quite easy to tease them apart and plant them.
The seeds keep OK too, the Mussel have come from the same packet for 3 years (just finished them this year, and the Alabana are 2nd sowing from the packet, they should last another 2 years of sowing. Mind you it depends how many plants you want and how much space you can give them.
Hope this helps, they are quite tough plants though we get a lot more rain up here so we don't have to water too much.
John
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This is really clear, and the pot idea sounds perfect. What time of year did you sow John? Oh, and welcome to A4a! :)
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I tried Bleu de solaise & Jaune de poiteau last year - both lasted the entire winter, and I'm still digging them out as required. Good colour contrast, just like VidaVerde said... grey-blue and mid-light green. Taste? Can't compare them with anything except supermarket leeks (first year's harvest), but they knocked them into a cocked hoop. Lovely and juicy, leaves had a good flavour too. Succulent.
Am giving the Genevilliers leek a go this year. Have sowed three pots at 2-3 week intervals. ... I've now got tiddlers in Pot 1, paper-clips emerging in Pot 2, and slumberers in Pot 3. Anyone tried this variety?
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We bought Oarsman F1, which looked a good all-rounder. I'd not sown leeks before, and was a bit disappointed with the germination, which was only about 40%.
Then, over Easter, in a Normandy street market, I bought on impulse 100 anonymous poireaux plants and we bunged them into one of our raised beds. [Fingers crossed mode on] Job's a good'un. [/Fingers crossed] :)
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Supersprout,
I normally start things off in the last week of March so this year it was 25th and 26th, Toms and chillies on the window ledge with propagator everything else in the Greenhouse, I use a fan heater set to about 5 deg C and this stops the frost.