Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Justy on April 04, 2005, 19:58:29
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I have sown leeks outside in a seed tray as only have little half lottie and not enough room for a seed bed. They seem to have germinated really well but look like spindly little blades of grass/chives. Is this normal? When should I transplant them into bigger pots?
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Perfectly normal.
I sow mine in 4 to 6 inch pots and then transplant at pencil thickness to their final resting place. I have not sown any leeks as yet but will be soon.
If you sow in succession you should have leeks for about 6 months of the year, if not longer.
Jerry
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However - if they are like a lawn in the tray, maybe they should be pri***d out into something else at wider spacing?
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However - if they are like a lawn in the tray, maybe they should be pri***d out into something else at wider spacing?
Stupid question I'm afraid... how do you prick out leeks? I thought you were supposed to hold the seedlings by the seed leaves when pricking out - and leeks don't have them! ???
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Just hold them by what God gave them - they don't mind!!
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Thanks Tim - see I told you it was a stupid question! ;D That'll be my first job tomorrow morning then
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have now pricked mine out but they look rather pathetic little spindly things all alone in their pots! How big should they be before planting them on lottie? Don't need hardening as they have been outside all the time.
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I plant mine when they are about as thick as a pencil, but I have only just sown mine. I guess I am behind the times again :(
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Justy - s.d the rules - you can put them out as thick as chives, if you really have to.
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A friend of mine was saying that when he has planted his main crop of leeks he plants the rest a lot closer together then uses then like spring onions I suppose. May well try this myself as I am trying 3 varities this time.
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I seem to be having trouble with leeks already. Keep sowing trays of them and most of the first bunch keeled over - damping off?. Second and third trays were mostly lost in the devestating mini-greenhouse blow over! Have now also tried direct sowing as well, and crossing fingers, toes etc!
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I seem to be having trouble with leeks already. Keep sowing trays of them and most of the first bunch keeled over - damping off?.
Did you see my post re-damping off and Cheshunt Compound? it really is wortwhile using it. ;) Alan
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Could they be drying out?
Looking at a leek seedling you wouldn't expect them to need much water, however, I've found that leek seedlings are better suited to quite a damp medium. Every couple of days or so I float the whole tray in water and let them draw up as much as possible. I don't water inbetween, they seem to thrive on a bottom soaking better than a top watering.
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I never let my table leeks as in musselburgh etc get too big in their seed tray, as soon as they get the grass leaves (The Flat ones) and the plant is about 8or9inch long I dibble a hole, put a pinch of superphosphate in the bottom, drop leek in and fill hole with water .. Sometimes there is only an inch of leaf protruding from hole . I dont top and tail them before planting . I do space seeds out in seed tray when I am setting them .cheers jim
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and I second that advise Growmore, i like to plant them out before they get to big
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Could they be drying out?
Looking at a leek seedling you wouldn't expect them to need much water, however, I've found that leek seedlings are better suited to quite a damp medium.
Yes kenkew, this could be quite possible. When so many keeled over to start with and I assumed damping off, I got a bit concerned that I was watering too much and slowed right down. Shall flood the ones I have, they are in quite well-draining peat-free compost. ;D
AlanG, is cheshunt organic?
as soon as they get the grass leaves (The Flat ones) and the plant is about 8or9inch long I dibble a hole, put a pinch of superphosphate in the bottom, drop leek in and fill hole with water ..
Hmmm, the oldest batch I have are nearly 8 weeks old now, and they're lucky if they're 4 or 5 inches long :(
Oh well, I am sure I will get it right at some point ;) Cheers everyone, will try to take some photos and post for further reference :D
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Got one lot that I were in the greenhouse - seed tray now outside along with Kelsae hardening off. I want a pogo stick - will that make holes for the leeks to go in? I found that if you water the holes first, then make the hole again, not as much soil goes back in when you water them after the leeks have been put in (does that make any sense? 1) make hole, 2) water it, 3) make hole again, 4) add leek, 5) water again, 6) go do something else.)
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Not much to add but last year I planted mine next to the butternut squash (first time I have grown it) and by the autumn the leeks were promptly taken over and killed by the squash. I will not do that again!
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Makes loads of sense multi..I do it similar .Push long dibber in, water round dibber ,Pull dibber out leaves a nice neat hole...Jim..
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Excellent. Leeks can go in then. I sense a busy planting day approaching! ;D
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If you screw a shelf bracket about a foot from the end of a broom handle you have a long dibber and don't have to bend down to make the holes. Just push on the bracket with your foot. Still have to bend down to put the leeks in of course. But at least it makes dibbering easy. 8)
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Do leeks look like spring onions when they are small? I have just found a pot in my garden that I probably put some seeds into last summer/autumn and when I pulled 9 of them out of the pot they had a white bulb on the bottom - the stems are less that a pencil thick :-\ Sorry, I'm being a bit thick but have never grown leeks before and am sure I didn't plant any spring onions.
Have repotted them but it would be handy to know what they are (reminder to self - label everything).
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I don't 'dib' twice. Dib, insert leek, pour water round hole edge. This floods hole with water AND very watery soil. The plant has to have the soil to support it.
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Yup lazy, my spring onions, chives and leeks all look the same as seedlings. ;D
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I have a breed of tommies called 'Buffallo' which come up looking like leeks. I almost threw them out last year!
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Right, have soaked my tray of leeks in water, just hoping they start to perk up now :)
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Where am I going to stick all the leeks I have sown in trays?
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Are we late with our leeks? We seem to be late this year as no seeds have been sown yet. Last year we were early. Hopefully next year we'll be just right.
Our leek dibber is the positive result of me snapping the end off the half moon edging tool. It's great as it's got a t-handle and a point. I also use it to stab the compost heap.
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I've not done leeks yet - always behind that's me :) Or is it that everyone else is too far in front? ;D
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Wardy, I have noticed that the peeps on here seem a bit 'keen' compared to the people on my allotment when it comes to sowing and planting. Or maybe it is just us in the frozen north.
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Still plenty of time to sow leeks folks.
A bit keen means impatient!!! I wanna do things, but am controlling myself by leaving the runners/french beans, sweetcorn and squashes (except one ball type courgette) seeds alone.
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Having finally bought some seeds, I'm eager to get going. But need some help please.
The packet talks about sowing outdoors, and then about planting out when they're 6 " high. Can I sow seeds straight into their final space, then pr*ck out? If not, why not. Thanks SG
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Probably because you'll have to earth up very high when they start growing. The seedlings normally go in a deep dibber hole that you don't fill in, just set them in and water a bit so some soil will fall into the hole. Actually I dib the holes in a little ditch. When they grow I just earth up by filling the ditch little by little and in the end only a small mound will be needed. After all, you want as much white stalk as possible.