Leeeeeeeks

[gordonsveg]

 ???   I`m going to try growing leeks in a container this year as my veg patch is very stony.I`v tried to grow them for years but had no luck, they either die off or dont grow at all.
   Has anybody had any success with containers?

[gordonsveg]

[kt.]

Never grown them in containers myself. But as many enthusiasts have deep 'leek beds' which they use for planting leeks for competition - I dont see a deep bed being any different to a deep pot.

[queen of the cobs]

I think this sounds like a good idea - had a friend who used to cut a 'window' in the large plant pot and put clear plastic on it so she could get an idea of how far along her potatoes were!

[Dizzymac]

Hi there

I've heard of some people growing leeks in pipes full of sandy soil I think which doesn't sound too different from pots.
Don't know if the pipes were in the ground tho???

Cheers Dizzy

[cacran]

I have lots of plastic pipes and had been wondering about trying to grow my leeks in them. So the soil should be sandy? I've got some of the fine stuff that goes in kiddies sand pits. If I mixed it with some compost, do you think that would do? Do I need to bury the pipes in the ground?? ???

[davyw1]

Leeks in pots yes.  But leeks in pipes i don,t think so you can use the pipe to blanch your leek as it grows but i don,t think growing them in pipes will work
Try this in pots.
4" of manure in the bottom of the pot sprinkle on Fish Blood and Bone and Early Bird
2" of soil and repeat with the manure and feed then top up you bucket with riddled soil. Dibble your leeks in about six to eight inches and give them a good watering. from that i think you will get a good result.

[sawfish]

I find leeks the biggest pain of all veg to grow from seed, so much hassle. I just buy a row of about 50 small plants in a tray from a shop along the road for 99p then plant them out.

[Robert_Brenchley]

A neighbour of mine grows leeks for show, quite successfully, and has them all in pots. Same with his show onions.

[lin]

I don't seem to have many problems with leeks ... I plant from seed direct in the plot (and they are now about 3" high) and I also have 3 trays in the back garden ready to go over.

I don't seem to get very big leeks, but I usually get an abundance so that makes up for the size... the plotholders who get huge leeks near me, put plastic pipe around them as they grow to blanch them and protect... but I couldn't be bothered with all that, as long as they grow and they taste nice, don't care how big or white they are... I usually eat nearly all the green stems too because they taste as nice as the white...
Lin

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'm much the same; I plant them pretty close, and grow lots of little ones.

[greenscrump]

given that the rabbits have eaten my neighbours spring onions is it likely they'll scoff my leeks (couple of inches tall and largest about 4mm thick) if I plant them out this week  ??? Haven't encountered rabbits before so any advice much appreciated  :)

[Tee Gee]

In a word..........Yes!!

I suggest you cover them with nets or fleece!!

[greenscrump]

thanks Tee Gee, thought they probably would, think I'll construct a net fence of some description round them.. Will they eat anything beyond the seedling stage ie toms, beans courgettes etc  ???  ???

[milkybardave]

Have lots of leeks (sown directly from seed into the ground) ranging between 2"-3" tall, but very spindly, when are they likely to start thickening up?

I have read that I need to wait until they are 8" tall and as thick as a pencil, before planting out to their final positions, at the rate they are growing they'll be 8" tall in no time. Is there any thing I can do to "thicken" them up?

Dave

[Chris Graham]

In a word..........Yes!!

I suggest you cover them with nets or fleece!!

Hmm i really need to watch out for rabbits now, seen one today eating my grass.

[jonny211]

I dunno if you can thicken them up at all, I think that comes with time. However they do seem quite tolarent to being moved around, I moved some three times and they grew in each location so you may not have to wait for the 8" stage.