Leek seedlings

[Marlborough]

I've had a quick look on the forum and I didnt find anything similar. I normally plant my leeks under glass at the end of January, the trouble is they look so thin and weak. Can anyone give me any advice on how they start theirs.bthanks

[Marlborough]

[sparrow]

I start mine in March indoors in a cat litter tray and put the tray outside when they have germinated. Personally I feel light levels are too low to start them earlier, and I don't have a greenhouse. They go in the ground in early July with my overwintering brassicas.

[kGarden]

I grow in equivalent of cat litter tray too - polystyrene fish box in my case, holes made in the bottom, seed sowed (painstakingly) 1/2" - 1" apart (depending on how many plants I want and the size of the box!!) so that they have enough room to grow on without competition.  I do manage to get the illusive pencil-sized by the time I plant out. They get fed (liquid fertiliser) "now and again" when I remember, and are grown on in the greenhouse.

I don't sow in January though, I think that early encourages bolting and my Leeks are definitely not for show!!


Seeds sown at consistent spacing


Ready for planting out


Individual plants

[Redalder]

I too do the polystyrene box in the greenhouse. Sowed them last week. Doesn't seem to matter much if you don't get to pencil size as long as you handle them carefully when planting out.  My leeks are for eating, they go out when it seems about time, we have a few when they are small and go on from there.

[kGarden]

Doesn't seem to matter much if you don't get to pencil size as long as you handle them carefully when planting out. 

Definitely agree with that - I never achieved the much mentioned "pencil thickness" for many years and the "biro refil" ones I planted out were just fine by the time they were cooking in the pan :)

[pumkinlover]

They look great kGarden.

[jimc]

My leek type is Musselburg.
I planted my original 24 seeds about 9-10 years ago and none since.
The first year the plants were pathetic so I left them in over summer thinking they might die. Well the plants multiplied to about 100 from the bulbs expanding and splitting. They grew to a good size for harvest the next winter but this time too many to eat so some were left behind.
I do get flowering every year and some do germinate but generally I just rely on the existing bulbs to split and shoot each autumn giving ample yield for the winter before they go woody die down again in mid spring.

[jimc]

I forgot to mention kGarden that your pics look so nice.

[pumkinlover]

That makes life easier jmc but I have white rot, rust and allium leaf miner on my plot. So no chance!

[Redalder]

My leek type is Musselburg.

I do get flowering every year and some do germinate but generally I just rely on the existing bulbs to split and shoot each autumn giving ample yield for the winter before they go woody die down again in mid spring.

I sow Musslburgh as well, would love to try this but  I am still pulling and eating them, with no sign of splitting bulbs.  Rich Leek Tart tonight to try to clear the space.

[galina]

KGarden, that is a great series of photos and instruction.   

[kGarden]

That makes life easier jmc but I have white rot, rust and allium leaf miner on my plot. So no chance!

I've read (but thankful don;t have White Rot, so not tried) that watering the soil with a garlic solution causes the white rot spores to "germinate", because they sense that there is a host plant.  Then on failing to find a host the organism dies ... and in this way the White Rot is weakened and conquered.  Good luck!

[kGarden]

Thanks for your kind words about my photos, here's the poof of the pudding, so to speak :), taken on XMas day



:)

[pumkinlover]

That makes life easier jmc but I have white rot, rust and allium leaf miner on my plot. So no chance!

I've read (but thankful don;t have White Rot, so not tried) that watering the soil with a garlic solution causes the white rot spores to "germinate", because they sense that there is a host plant.  Then on failing to find a host the organism dies ... and in this way the White Rot is weakened and conquered.  Good luck!

Thanks I have tried this. But usually leave it too late! The other two area the main problem now.
Your leeks look great !

[Clayhithe]

I start mine in normal 9" plastic pots,  with garden soil,  in the kitchen.
The pot goes outside when the seeds have germinated,
and the seedlings are transplanted into deep holes in June-ish.