Allotments 4 All

Here's the problem -

My leeks have germinated and grown a lot faster than expected this year and need to come out of their seed trays because it is too shallow.

Last year I potted into individual deeper pots and placed in the greenhouse but it was later on in the year.

This year I need 150 leeks, so individual pots are a no no so I am going to plant in deep  margarine /ice cream tubs (20 to a tub).

Does anyone know what kind of temperature these leeks will need. I have little windowsill space but do have a cold greenhouse X2 and cold frames but even though the weather is warming can't guarantee it not catching a frost. Where does everyone else put there transplants or when and at what size would you plant out to a seed bed.

Ian

My unheated greenhouse is also used to give some protection from the weather, although leeks are low on my list as they are pretty hardy. I tend to plant mine into plastic drinking cups until they are ready to plant into their final positions. I endeavour to grow over 200 leeks per year to satisfy our appetites.

They should be fine in a cold frame or cold greenhouse. If at all worried bring them back indoors at night if a frost is forecast but after a couple of weeks they should be hardened off and happy outside 24/7.

HTH

Jerry

Thanks all

What size would you recommend moving at mine are pushing 2" at the moment

Still a little small at the moment, give them another inch or so and they will then have a more robust root system and will cope with the move far better.

Jerry

Seedlings from the market or lottie neighbours can be anything from 6 to 9 inches tall (including roots) - they seem pretty tolerant of transplanting even when they get large, and they're a lot easier to handle.

Supersprout that's the second transplanting size. Mine wont get that big in the shallow tray I have them in. I need to transplant soon(ish) then grow on to 6-9" then plant out - I think!

The roots should continue to grow sideways glow, albeit they may need to be gently teased apart when potting up later. I would be inclined to follow Jerry's advice and let them grow a bit more.

Bung them in the cold greenhouse, mine have germinated in there and are slowly coming up even though the matting they're sitting on has frozen.

Sorry glow :-[ ;)

My book says plant out when has thick as a pencil

150! 200!! leeks per year. I thought I had too many with 20 last year. What the hell do you do with that many leeks?  ???

Well in my case I have a family of 4 to feed, and we like leeks! Our favourite way of having them at the moment is as a big bowl of cheesy leeks, this dish can consume 8 leeks easily, so estimating 8 leeks per week gives me 24 weeks. We must be eating more than that because my crop is beginning to dwindle ... I reckon we will only get 20 weeks supply maximum.

Same here 6-8 leeks go in a leek in cheese sauce 4 in a stew and 3 in a leek and stilton quiche (very cheap stilton from ocal cheese shop!) not too mention potato and leek soup.

We start on them before they are fully mature, freeze a few and leave the rest in the ground to take as required.

We soon run out of them - unlike *%£*^$" swedes!

Ian

I will not be sowing my leeks for another month or so I livve over 1000ft above sea level and it take time for the ground to warm up. Having said that I always get a bumper crop. Last year I grew 150 leeks and being welsh I love them.

Same here with the altitude we are at 1000 ft but my leeks wont see the outside world until late May/Jume.

In fact the lotty holder next to me plants nothing until June 12 except pots in his greenhouses

Hi

I have a tray on the go, first time from seed myself. They appear to grow as if they are bent over and are now trying to straighten up - can someone please tell me if this is normal?

Thanks
TonyM

that's what mine have always done