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Leeks

pclark42pclark42 Posts: 186
in Fruit & veg
Walking back up the garden yesterday I glanced at the poor show of leeks, what am I doing wrong? I start them off in root trainers early in the year Feb or March, when they get about 9 or 10 cm tall they go out into well-fertilized soil, I create holes for the long stringy root, place them in and water them, I don't fill the hole in, they get watered and fed, but each year they are absolutely awful, they don't get fat, and at this moment they have become al slimy, and you just couldn't use them. Can someone give me some advice please, and suggest a seed that gives good results. Thank you.
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  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I can’t say what’s happened to your leeks, I find them easy to grow compared to some veg.
    I always buy these sow on the 19th Feb indoors,  then plant out when they are about 6” tall,  cut the roots to get rid of those long straggly ones.  Some say to cut the green back to about 3”, but I never do.
    I’ve pulled a few and leave them in the ground and pull as I need them.
    Sorry you’ve had a problem. Sounds like you’re doing the right thing,  the only difference maybe, my ground is acid so every couple of years I lime it or you could be planting them out a bit too early. 
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230967886110
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Check for Allium Leaf Miner and Leek Moth damage:
    I get quite a bit of damage from the Allium Leaf Miner.


    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Yuk! Never had anything like that. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    It's possibly the height above sea level at your place, @Lyn.  You don't really notice the damage until you harvest them and find the tiny brown chrysalides buried in the white stem.. or they start rotting while in the ground.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You’re probably right Bob,  my dad used to say we’ll never get carrot fly up here, she can’t fly that high.  We do get our share of cabbage whites though😀
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • muckyhandsmikemuckyhandsmike Posts: 239
    Fwiw I usually buy a strip from the garden centre. This year it had 32 plants and cost £1.99 ... so I don’t think it’s worth bothering with seed. I usually trim off the roots by two thirds and put them into a hole before adding water then just leave them. It seems to work ok as I’ve never had a problem & found them very easy to grow. Maybe try a strip rather than seed and see how it goes next year pclark42 ?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You wouldn’t buy anything like that in my local GC,  probably get a pack of 6 for £2.00. That’s if they had them at all, I don’t think they sell veg plants, only tomatoes. 
    I’d rather grow a 100 for 50p.  I love growing from seeds though I never buy any plants.  But each to his own and I can understand if you don’t have room for 100 then buying a few plants is good.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    You didn't mention trimming the roots and tops when you plant your seedling leeks. I grow leeks from seed each year much the same as you but I always cut off some of the roots and tops. A couple of years ago I tried putting newspaper collars on them which definitely gave me better white length.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    Plant as thinly as possible in deep trays until 12 inches tall.  Dib 12 inch holes, 6 inches apart, and plant each seedling in them after dropping a few chicken manure pellets in each.  A block of four, even five, rows won't occupy much plot space and this method usually works well for me.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Joyce Goldenlily said:
    You didn't mention trimming the roots and tops when you plant your seedling leeks. I grow leeks from seed each year much the same as you but I always cut off some of the roots and tops. A couple of years ago I tried putting newspaper collars on them which definitely gave me better white length.
    I mentioned it above Joyce,  cut the roots but not the leaves,  are they better if you do? 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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