Allotments 4 All

I wonder if someone could please give me some advise.  My leek seeds were planted a couple of weeks ago and the plants are still very small.  So without consulting the Epxert vegetable book I pricked them out in the usual way (the roots were quite big I thought) -  as I remeber the book said that they have to be pencil thickness when planted out.  I have now read an article and wonder whether I have done the wrong thing in pricking them out into individual cells?  Or is it OK until they are pencil thick and then plant out into holes into their final growing space?

Jitterbug

I am no expert but what you have done is what we did... we never waited to achieve this pencil thickness lark before we planted ours out though.... managed about pencil lead thickness and got impatient!

I didnt wait for pencil thickness and they are still a bit small

I don't wait for pencil thickness either, I leave mine in their big tray then manhandle and untangle them once my spuds have started to go and plant them in deep holes.  I don't trim roots or growing tips either and we always have masses of lovely long, white, strong, thick leeks.

Mine went out about six weeks ago next to my onions.  :o ;D ;D ;D

Most of mine went out a few weeks ago, but Mr & Mrs Blackbird have been helping themselves  >:(.  Luckily there are still some in the tray and I've been replacing them and then covering with chicken wire.  Should be renamed blackbird wire.  >:(

I repeat - may not look it, but about 2mm. Just fine!

Personally, I would disregard the thickness, and transplant to their growing position once they are about 8 or 9 inches long. (Dibbed hole about 6 inches deep and watered in, not backfilled.)

On previous occasions, I have trimmed the roots and tops, but this year I haven't, and they are doing fine.

Yes - that's about 7-8" - but the holes are 10-12"deep.

Quote from: tim on June 27, 2007, 19:36:02
Yes - that's about 7-8" - but the holes are 10-12"deep.

Tim, I thought you had to have a little bit of leaf sticking out of the top of the hole for photosynthesis to take place?

Have to admit that mine are in about 10 inches, but they were nearly a foot long when I transplanted them, as the ground wasn't ready before.

Quizzical,
I would agree with you, plants 10"-12", dibbed holes 6-8".
I only trim the roots or they might jam in the holes.

Why do the books always say "pencil thickness"?  ??? ??? ???

I've been growing leeks for years, and I've never transplanted them any thicker than a pencil lead, so where's the idea come from?

??? ???

It never says what sized pencil though, does it? Some pencils are very thin & there were those giant ones when I was a kid - about 3/4 inch diameter. Just a thought.

Last year, I planted my larger & smaller ones alternately, so they made a grid-like pattern. Upon harvest it was impossible to tell which was which.

Quizzy - I never do!

And less temptation for the birds?

can i just confirm that i have this correct as mine i am gonna plant out in the next day or two dependent on the weather they are about pencil lead thickness and 6 to 8 inches long. I need to dib a hole almost as long as the leek itself then water it in only leaving a little of the green above ground is this correct please

Hi Everyone

As per usual you all rose to the occassion.  Thanks for the information.  Guess what I will be doing on Sunday.  Removing the pricked out leeks from their seed trays and planting straight into the ground. 

Thanks for all the help guys. TIM:  That poor leek - it must be petrified of that scissors!!  Had you trimmed its roots already as they looked awfully even - not like mine which were all over the place? 

Jitterbug

On the subject of planting leeks. I want to grow some as baby leeks and I read somewhere that you should plant them in a different way but i can't find where I read it. It was either just closer together or in clumps but I can't remember which.