Poor leeks

[caroline7758]

I planted out some leeks in mid-July and none of them are more than 1" diameter and with very little white. I know the latter is because I haven't earthed them up, but is there anything I can do at this stage to bulk them up? The ones I planted in June were much better so maybe that's the answer.

[caroline7758]

[goodlife]

Have you fed them during summer at all? It is really a wrong time of the year now to do so..but if the weather don't turn too wintery they will still grow some more 'bulk' this year for spring harvest. If you are really 'gentle' with some chicken pellets..not that many per leek or Blood Fish and Bone meal..just little sprinkling..you might still fatten them up a little.
Give them too much and you may just create some lush growth that won't be hardy against winter weather.

[caroline7758]

Thanks. Last year it was the rabbits rather than the winter weather that got my leeks- chewed the tops right off them!

[Unwashed]

Too late to do anything now Caroline, but they'll stand just as well.

[SMP1704]

if all else fails, just remind yourself how expensive 'baby' veg is in the supermarkets :D

[cornykev]

Mine went in late as well,early Aug, they are not very big now, but I hope they will bulk up a bit as they'll be in over Winter.  :-\ :-\ :-\

[Mr Smith]

My leeks are also not doing to well I might just pull them out of the raised bed and make room for a few more garlic cloves, :)

[Morris]

I usually plant out a second batch of leeks in August - it's part of my plan to make as good use as possible of my limited space in the garden.  I don't have the luxury of massive allotment rows, wish I did!

I've found the later leeks continue to grow slowly over the winter whenever the weather is mild, then put on a spurt once the days begin to get longer again.  This makes for lovely fresh leeks in late winter/early spring.  Last year when the weather was so cold the last ones still hadn't bolted when I pulled them in May. 

So, hopefully you will find they continue to grow and fatten as long as you leave them.

   

[aj]

I planted out some leeks in mid-July and none of them are more than 1" diameter and with very little white. I know the latter is because I haven't earthed them up, but is there anything I can do at this stage to bulk them up? The ones I planted in June were much better so maybe that's the answer.

Um, that's about what they would be about now. Leeks are best as winter veg, not autumn veg.

[caroline7758]

Ok thanks everyone. Will try to resist lifting them and watch out for rabbits!