leek transplanting

[David R]

today i dug up and replanted my leeks. They were about 8" tall and fairly close together. I have never grown leeks before so was wondering if this was an odd time to do this. I followed the dibber, puddle method, however i did not remove any of the leaves or roots. They were then planted 12" apart each and 18" between rows.

did i do ok?

[David R]

[jennym]

You are doing the same as I do every year, so should be OK. I would keep an eye on the watering though.
Best of luck.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'm planting mine in blocks 9 inches apart; it'll be interesting to see what the size difference is! I won't be earthing up, obviously, and since I've had to buy them this year, grown in modules, they won't go down dibber holes properly. So I won't be getting much white stem. Not that it bothers me.

[tim]

I go for 6".

[Mrs Ava]

Earthed mine up yesterday and am amazed at how quickly they have grown!  Thank goodness the white rot seems to leave them alone, especially as I binned the last of my spring planted onions today due to the dam rot!

[jennym]

Leeks and onions often get different diseases, so when onions have rot, leeks won't always get it.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've gone for six-inch spacing before, and got diddy little leekettes. So I'm spacing them a bit further apart this year to see what happens.

[Merry Tiller]

6 inch apart, 12 inch between rows does me, your spacing seems a little excessive but they should be fine

[philcooper]

What's a row?  ;)

In beds the spacing is the same in all directions - I use 6" for medium sized leeks, more than that and you can grow monsters, but have to keep the weeds down between them for longer!

Phil

[tim]

Robert -  for 6" spacing, see my 'webshot' leek photo?

[Derekthefox]

Same as Tim for me, 6" x 12" rows.
growing 250 plants this year, would have had more, but germination was poor for late maturing crop. Will stick with musselburgh next year, always have good yield off those, plus some earlies for up till christmas time.

[flowerlady]

Just a quick question - how many of you 'topped and tailed' you leeks before planting them out?

I have been given a variety of 'advice' from our allotments, would like to know the pros and cons.

[Doris_Pinks]

I have never bothered flowerlady, I have always made a hole, and plonked them in with everything still attatched, a good water and they seem to do fine for me!

[Derekthefox]

just like DP, I replant as lifted . . .

[docken]

:D
I'm not convinced that topping and tailing makes much difference, although the 'old hands' are quite fixed in their ways and are certain it makes a big difference.  I've tried both with and without.  This year they went straight in with no treatment, just a very good soaking.  I now await results.

[Palustris]

Always struck me as an odd thing to do, onions do not develop branching roots and any damaged ones die and have to be replaced from the basal plate. So cut the roots and the plant has to replace the lot. Thats why you also reduce the leaf, to reduce moisture loss until the plant re-grows its roots.

[Mrs Ava]

Nope, dig a hole, plonk it in, water well and leave mother nature to what she does best!

[Icyberjunkie]

Being my first year I have both!  The advice I was given was that if the roots stopped the leek going in the hole easily then pull them off cos they'd die anyway - that makes sense.   The other advice was to pull leaves off that are on the ground cos they'd rot.

As a result I have a right old mixed batch but so far have seen no difference between plants with all having grown on at the same rate - about 3 weeks worth.  My impression therefore is that it makes no difference at all.

Interestingly though the transplanted ones have grown faster than those still in the seed back until my early potatoes are all out.  Those left in the seedbed are well spaced and were rewatered in when the first lot were taken out so I have no idea why this should be.  Does anyone else?

[flowerlady]

Do you think that the nutrient value of the soil has become so depleted as to slow down the growth? :-\

As to me topping and tailing MY leeks it may be academic this year, I'm SO late they may well still be spring onions by Christmas he.. he.. ;D