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Talkback: Growing leeks

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
I also planted my leeks without thinking about it, in the shade of my runner bean wigwam and the crop is not so good this year.
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    you would be better not to plant leeks or any of the onion family near beans as the smell prevents the bees sussing out your bean flowers and you could have poor pollination. Sorry about your leeks this year, Pippa. I skipped them this year as my freezer still has a glut of leek and potato soup from last year but the self-sown ones look very healthy. My productive garden was designed for a family of nine, which we used to be, but now I am on my own I keep over-producing - so hard to adapt - and i don't get the same satisfaction from a bunch of my own flowers. My gardening "Bible" tells me that leeks will only grow well if they have uninterrupted growth and last year we had a late spring followed by a drought of about five weeks so the conditions were very poor for leeks.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    we have chickens in our garden and use the compost to mix with the earth.our potatoes are like giants and the leeks are on the large size as well.no moths here but very large worms.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    more a question than a comment.
    Hosta in a big pot..splendid.. now that they are whilting. how do I treat them.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I did the same with my leeks with the same sort of results but my bean wigwam I planted in the sun and had continous beans--best I've ever had. The caterpillers made short work of my brassicas though despite picking them off every day
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have some pots of 3 year-old strawberry plants that still have runners with roots. I have left it rather late but can I still cut them from the mother plant and pot them on?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    My leeks are disappointing too! I'm sure it's the strange seasons we are experiencing. I have apple blossom out!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    My leeks this year have been disastrous.
    They have been attacked by what sounds like the moth that Pippa describes and are so skinny. Does anyonhe know if they will grow fatter or shall we put it down to experience and get rid. Looking at others on our allotments mine seem to be the worse.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    my leeks have been very good this year .i left them till late .planted them in same bed as my early potatoes after the spuds had been lifted .dont know if this really helped .but it worked.also planted them deep and dont back fill let the watering do it
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    My leeks are also rather feeble this year. They are in a raised bed that is partly shaded by a silver birch, and those most in the shade are least good. Had wondered whether this was due to competition for moisture from the tree.

    My onions were also rather small this year. Hadn't realised they might need additional watering over the spring/summer. Will learn for next time!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    my leeks all nice and fat but have split and gone brown.what have i done wrong.
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