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I agree
Do you think that the books mean pencil lead thickness? I've never got mine to pencil thickness before planting out
I can never get mine to look that size.
Mine were grass thickness when I transplanted them. They look a bit better now though.
Sown in Jan, but just wouldnt thicken.
Not the best image -
(http://www.backyard.8m.net/garden%20veg/01.06.08/IMG_1268.JPG)
The books said it once and it gets repeated-same as trimming the roots and leaves.
Some of us are old enough to remember the `lore` being one should bend over onions-are we not?? :)
Glad I'm not the only one who cannot get achieve pencil thickness. Mine are more like blades of grass and I have always had a really good crop.
Darn, this has just reminded me that I forgot to check on my leeks when I was down at the plot this afternoon. ::)
I grow show leeks and never tried to grow my pot leeks to pencil thickness, i have never found the need. One thing i always do though is top and tail them to encourage new root and flag growth.
Quote from: davyw1 on June 05, 2008, 17:57:05
One thing i always do though is top and tail them to encourage new root and flag growth.
Never tried it as yet. Always keep meaning to give it a go but keep forgetting. Does it make much of a difference ???
Our leeks were transplanted a few days ago and were actually jsut about pencil thickness! was very shocked, but pleased!
what exactly do you do to top and tail them? My leeks are like fine bits of grass, only just showing through. I planted the seeds outside in a row. when do they need transplanting, surely if they were as thick as pencils they would be fighting for space as they are now so close.
I've never seen them pencil thickness, and have always transplanted them when they are like Tim's. Trim the roots and tops, and pop them into their holes. And hope the birds don't nick them. >:( >:( >:(
I planted mine this evening and they're more the thickness of a cocktail stick than a pencil. In my opinion leeks are slow to grow so if I waited until they were as thick as a pencil, they wouldn't be put in the plot until August!
I do have one question though. I used a dibber and dropped the leek in then watered it in well. Do I need to go back to the plot tomorrow and water them again or will the soil which washed down the hole be enough?
They'll be OK as they are.
Can't remember where it was, maybe on TV, but I heard somewhere recently that top & tailing isn't necessary with earlier plantings but does help later in the season.Not sure why!
Quote from: PJW_Letchworth on June 05, 2008, 23:45:21
I used a dibber and dropped the leek in then watered it in well. Do I need to go back to the plot tomorrow and water them again or will the soil which washed down the hole be enough?
I just covered mine with mesh to stop the birds nicking them. Some allotmenteers have put 50 leeks in one day and found the birds have had them all the next. After a week or so, the ground has closed in around them anyway. I did water mine daily for a few days to help get established. They have been in the ground for 3 weeks and appear to be doing OK
The only year I did allow my leek seedlings to grow to pencil size before transplanting was the only year my leeks produced a poor crop. They went to seed early and on making a thorough investigation I concluded that after a greater set-back, having more growth for the damaged roots to supply water to and it being a little more into summertime and less rain about the leeks thought they had already lived through their first year and decided the time was right to send up a flowering stem. So I'm certainly with Tim!
A few have asked why to top and tail!
I understand this to be the roots you trim so that they can start at uniform depth and don't push plant up or get coiled round if they are long and straggly.
the tops you trim as this cuts down the amount of plant that the leaks have to "look after" and so helps them get a quicker start off!
This is my understanding - probably not the right reasons tho! I always top and tail them and dib a hole put plant in hole and fill hole with water to make sure that soil is around the roots and plant is held in hole. I never water again (unless it is drought conditions)!
Old Bird
Righty ho, I think I know what I am going to do now. Last year I planted them out when they were very thin and did no topping and tailing and they seemed to crop well but maybe this year they will be even better.
If you grow them to 'pencil size', then they have a fair bit of root growth, and it's not necessarily going to be easy to shove them down the hole. Maybe the trimming originated as a way of making it a bit easier.
mine have always been strong seedlings and never pencil thickness, always done alright, i'll be planting mine out properly tomorrow and i suppose they are a bit thicker than cocktail stick but very healthy.
Hi
I'v also never managed to get the leeks that thick before planting them on.
I did a bit of a trial this year with leeks. I did two sowings in same sized deep trays at the same time. One tray I have since repotted, well spaced, into a larger seed tray. They are now pencil thickness. The other tray are still quite thin.
It will be interesting to see how both sets do when I get them in the ground.
mine are still in the rootrainers, first lot are nearly there, second lot are 'blade of grass'
waiting for the early spuds to come out
might top and tail some, see what happens ;D
I just chuck 'em in! Never lost a leek yet .. they are the Mare's Tail of edible vegetables!