Hello
I sowed leeks in January and theyre still in cells, they are definately in need of being planted out as the roots are through and there isnt much soil left.
They are quite pencil thick tough - only half way there.
My question is - shall I put them in drills closer together in a seedbed until they go to their final spot or shall i just put them where they are to go straight away? I usually wait until pencil thick but I can see they need soem soil
thanks
Leeks always grow slowly for me - so I would put them out into their permanent positions now (I am doing the same for mine today in fact). That way the roots won'tget disturbed more than once (less disturbance-more growth).
Sorry to jump in here, I haven't grown leeks for a few years, but I was always taught to cut off some of the root and a bit of the top when planting out leeks.
Do some of you just plant out the plant straight from the module? How deep do you plant it?
Am now in the NE and high on the lottie waiting list, so I must get this right ;)
I plant mine about 1 inch deep - don't want a long white stem as I like the green tops, especially in the winter - adds more colour to leek & potato soup too!
Talking to people over the years, it seems each has their own way of planting leeks. To cut tops, not to, cut roots or not to..so many variations and thoughts and reasons to do so or not..
My method is in my opinion simple, seperate each plant at the time you are going to transplant into their final possition.
Some of the root system will break away, thats inevitable, just don't worry about it as they are a pretty sturdy plant.
Dibble a hole 6- 8 inch deep drop the plant in, puddle well, allowing soil to fall around the roots to cover. Don't backfil the hole...dibble each hole at 6 inch intervals..When the rows are complete one more quick watering and leave them to get on with it.
Usually start planting out as and when my first tatties are lifted.
Others no doubt will have other methods, all I'm stating thats mine..
Have a great season... ;)
They often say that leeks like a big of rough treatment! I always trim the roots and tops and that never seems to do them any harm.
I too put them in after early spuds or sometimes after garlic, with some extra fertilizer in the soil.
When you say space them at 6" intervals, could I space mine at 3" and thin out the baby leeks in a couple of months as a first crop?
Or - to save trampling up & down the bed, put some in their own bed/tub, whatever. That's what I do with Garlic wimps.
Trimming? Trimming roots helps the plant drop into the hole more cleanly. Trimming the top dissuades the birds from lifting them out. Also gives less greenery for the roots to maintain early on.
Never heard of green leeks before. Something new every day! But I do use most of the green in standard plants. Stupid for recipes to say white only!!
I only trim them if I let them get too big to drop down the holes easily. Otherwise it seems pointless.
Of course!!
My lot are all in 3" individual pots and will remain there until I have some ground available to put them in.
I don't usually plant out until mid-end of June, sometimes July even.
By the way I only grow leeks for winter use, if I was growing them for summer use I would work very differently.
My father never dibbed them in at all. I don't think he knew what a dibber was, but the leeks were fine.
I have a pile that are very very thin by no way pencil size, grown too crowded and been negelected(apart from watering) should I chuck them or is worth planting them in the ground now from the tray they are in OR planting them individually into say Jiffies and later on planting them in the ground, At the moment they seem to have stopped growing but are not dying off either.
XX Jeannine
Hi Jeannine and all you leek growers.
I have been growing leeks on and off for years, but this year I have had a complete failure like you Jeannine I transplanted my leeks into Jiffy pots (never again, horrible things) I suspect I over watered them due to the jiffies drying out. They didn't grow at all but were still green, I have binned them and I am looking out for them at my local garden centres. I also suspect the compost, it was a well known make but mostly bits of wood and a bit of someones laminate flooring.
Regards Queenbee.
Name & shame the compost Queenbee ;).
Hi Grannyjanny,
I am in the process of writing to the Company with my complaint, I will let you know the outcome as soon as.
Regards Queenbee.
Haven't sown my leeks yet, usually sow them about now and they seem to be fine for winter use. (but then I am in the sunny south) Seems a bit expensive to buy leek seedlings to me.
Jeannine - these are less than 5mm. So long as they are stiff enough to stay upright they're just fine!!
Mine were planted out this year less than a pencil size..they were almost too small to handle but seem to be doing fine....they were definaterly a bit fiddly to handle but hey ho...what does it matter...it worked.... ;D
So Jeannine...don't feel sorry for them...say to them;'there's soil...here's water...what more do you want?...now grow!... ;D
Mine will go in after my early spuds they are about the same size as Tims and doing nicely in an ice cream tub, I dib a hole 6 inches deep, trim the roots and water in. ;D ;D ;D
Thank you so much, I will plant them direct with the little talking too suggested. My onions were transplanted in Jiffies and they did well but that was a few weeks ago and they are safe in the ground now.
I have never had a problem with leeks before but then I always did everything as i should, this time I abused them...bless.
Thankfully the mix I get here is great, it is the one the druggies use !!!
XX Jeannine