Leek offsets?

[chriscross1966]

I've got some leeks running to seed (not fussed, the bees will like them though) in the bed that will eventually be squashes this year, however at the base of most of them is a smalll plant that seems to be attached to the main stem. Are these the offsets that folks speak of an dis it worth rescuing them to see how big they turn out to be?

chrisc

[chriscross1966]

[james1]

I believe the offsets you talk about.
grow after you cut off flowers and then young leeks grow from where flower seed was.
That's what am led to believe.............

[goodlife]

I have tried separating those and re-planting in past and it hasn't been success... they tend to put some growth on and bolt again..so I find not worth it..unless it flowers that you are after..
I think what you are refering is pips..those are minileeks (seedlings) that develop into flowerhead itself...
I grow babington leek that that produce little bulblets into base of the old one..like gladioli...and after separating those from mother you get new leeks from them...with babington you do not deal with seeds at all just with bulbs..

[Vinlander]

I believe the offsets you talk about.
grow after you cut off flowers and then young leeks grow from where flower seed was.
That's what am led to believe.............

I have tried separating those and re-planting in past and it hasn't been success... they tend to put some growth on and bolt again..so I find not worth it..unless it flowers that you are after..
I think what you are refering is pips..those are minileeks (seedlings) that develop into flowerhead itself...

There are earlier threads on this - http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,58043.0.html

The 'pips' are produced between the flower stems of the 'pompom' and will grow earlier to a much more useful size if the individual flowers are cut off to leave a 'stubble pompom' as soon as you can get some nail scissors in there.

I've been doing this for years and the bigger 'pips' (match head or bigger) contain much more stored energy than a seed and therefore produce bigger plants faster (helped by there being no delay for germination).

I have had a few pips turn into leeks that bolted early - but only about 1%.

If you find a variety that produces more than a few percent of bolting rogues then dump it and try another next time.

Cheers.

[goodlife]

Vilander..
I'm growing couple of old pot leeks in large pots for seed harvesting purposes..but..(silly question is coming..)..would I get seed and pips from same flower head if I would chop ..say half of the flowers off..? ::)..just trying to maximise the production....=being greedy... :-[
This chap in our lottie has been growing leeks for 'donkey's years' and he and his farther bread this variety and over the years won prizes too...and every year I can't do anything but admire the size of these..even though he don't show them anymore  they seem to grow huge even without fancy care..This chap (in his 'mature' years now) don't show them anymore ..they purely just for pot..but he still keeps the line going... ;D...and now I want to do same.. ;D

[davyw1]

Goodlife .........do you know what breed they are.

[goodlife]

Ummm..he did tell me what his dad used for breeding..but,, :-[ ::) :-X ..err..my memory do not want to  give that info out ..I shall ask it again.. ::)..and this time I'll do it with pen and paper.. ;D

[davyw1]

Ref the question to Vilander you cant have both as you give the seed head a shave by cutting off the the seed flowers to get better grass (young leeks ) also by taking the grass and not the seed you get better results the down side of doing it this way i you do need heat and good potting compost ..M3.
I did an experiment on a leek that had been allowed to dry out and then watered to force it to seed to find out if the leeks taken from it would follow suit and bolt to seed early so far it is looking good.
These in the ground are what we call a 164 (that was what they measured in cms)
the front leek in the tunnel are the same leek from the same head.

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