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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Karen Atkinson on May 22, 2011, 19:58:15

Title: floppy leeks...?
Post by: Karen Atkinson on May 22, 2011, 19:58:15
sowed leek seeds about a month ago..they germinated but now look like long grass...in fact, they've grown too tall (about 3") that they ve flopped over the side of the plant pot. I'd expeted them to grow straight up. So the questions is...what have I done wrong?   and now what shall I do with them. They really are very very thin blades of grass like stems.
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: Ben Acre on May 22, 2011, 20:03:10
Not sown or transplanted deep enough.
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: Karen Atkinson on May 22, 2011, 20:04:14
is it too late to save them?
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: Ben Acre on May 22, 2011, 20:04:48
No just re plant them deeper and water.
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: Karen Atkinson on May 22, 2011, 21:51:24
ok will do. Thanks
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 22, 2011, 22:22:31
It's not too late at all; I haven't planted mine out yet. Dib holes, shove them in deep, and if they don't want to go, trim the roots and leaves. You only need a little leaf sticking out of the top of the hole. I use a crowbar as my standard dibber doesn't make a big enough hole.
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: PeterVV on May 23, 2011, 19:45:03
I know a lot of people trim the roots and leaves, but I wouldnt advocate trimming roots, just the leaves.
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: cornykev on May 23, 2011, 20:03:16
I always trim the roots.   ???
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: green lily on May 23, 2011, 20:37:50
My leeks are ready to transplant but I was hoping for some rain first. I've grown them in a biggish icecream container to give them depth. I trim the bottom tips of the roots. I think it helps them to tiller but don't be too ruthless. Finger tip job. Seems to work for me. Puddle them in well with a bit of chicken manure.... :)
For the first time I'm saving my own seed from 2 I've kept over from last year  Big flower buds but no flowers yet.. Some leeks give bulbils but I've no idea what these  2 will do..
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 23, 2011, 23:08:23
I only trim roots if they're too big to drop down the hole.
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: Karen Atkinson on May 24, 2011, 07:15:38
How deep do you have to plant them? How much of thetop should be showing? Is it okay to plant out just blades of grass then..as this is what they ressemble?
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: PeterVV on May 25, 2011, 19:54:26
depends how big they are when you dib them in, 4 - 6 inch deep hole, drop them in and fill the hole with water, no need to fill with soil , let the water do it.
Title: Re: floppy leeks...?
Post by: aj on May 25, 2011, 20:12:46
If you are unsure, just plant the whole pot of them [minus the pot itself] in a corner somewhere in your borders/beds; about 3 inches deeper than they already are and water them in. Once you get space to put them in their final position, dig them up and put them where they will sit for autumn/winter. They will carry on growing in the meantime.