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Leeks - to move or not

midnightbluemidnightblue Posts: 66
in Fruit & veg
I hope its okay to ask a second question in one day! 

I scatter sowed my leeks in pots and they are now about 2-3" tall - now I've realised that was a mistake - they can't stay in their communal pots until they are big enough to trim and transplant so I'm a bit stuck. They are too small to do that now.
Can I lift and separate them into individual pots to grow on to pencil thickness without checking their growth or should I start again? 

Posts

  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    I am not a leek expert, although we have grown them at least for 5 years and had a successful harvest each time.  We sow the seed as directed on the packet, into a deep container with drain holes and keep in the GH or cold frame until the leeks are 3 or 4 inches tall and then we transplant them into the garden - in rows.  We make a very deep hole for each plant, pop the plant in so only the top two or three inches are above ground then instead of filling the hole with soil we use a watering can to fill the hole with water and as the water fills the hole so the soil from the edge of the hole falls in too, filling the hole, so the hole is full of water and the lose soil. They do their own thing, we just weed the row and water if very dry weather.  They take approx 4 - 5 months to reach harvest size.  I hope this helps midnightblue.
  • midnightbluemidnightblue Posts: 66
    Thank you Guernsey Donkey 2 and philippa smith2 - I like your suggestion to use  a wooden skewer to separate them. They are in quite deep pots so they will maybe slide apart quite easily as they haven't had too much time to tangle together yet.... thanks again. best wishes
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Let us know how they get on in a week or two midnightblue.
  • midnightbluemidnightblue Posts: 66
    Yes I will do Guernsey Donkey2, I've separated and transplanted them to new pots because they are too small to go outside so it will be interesting to see if that has checked them too badly. I had to do something because they were too congested so it's the best of a bad job! Another gardening lesson learnt!
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    That's what gardening is all about midnightblue - we are all learning all the time - especially from more experienced gardeners on this site.  It is great to share ideas and thoughts here and I think you have done the right thing - I am sure they will thrive in their pots for another couple of weeks of care.
  • midnightbluemidnightblue Posts: 66
    Thanks Guernsey Donkey2 - I'll post the results whatever they are!
  • Green MagpieGreen Magpie Posts: 806
    I find an old kitchen fork, just the size you use to eat with, is very useful for transplanting tiny plants. 
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