I'm also a novice leek grower but I having read the previous comments I feel that I've done roughly the right thing. Could someone please explain 'earthing up'
Hi Sushichick & welcome! Planting them into holes made with a dibber is to help blanch the lower part of the leek which is usually what is eaten. You can do the same thing by raising a mound of soil around each leek. This is known as 'earthing up.' By doing that you prevent light reaching the lower part and it turns white/light green instead of dark green (which is what blanching means in this context.)
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
You need to be careful with earthing up that you don't get dirt inside your leek. This is the same reason you fill your dibber hole with water not soil. Use a plastic collar to blanche more of your leek. That way there's a lot less chance of having a gritty leek for tea.
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I'm also a novice leek grower but I having read the previous comments I feel that I've done roughly the right thing. Could someone please explain 'earthing up'
Hi Sushichick & welcome! Planting them into holes made with a dibber is to help blanch the lower part of the leek which is usually what is eaten. You can do the same thing by raising a mound of soil around each leek. This is known as 'earthing up.' By doing that you prevent light reaching the lower part and it turns white/light green instead of dark green (which is what blanching means in this context.)
You need to be careful with earthing up that you don't get dirt inside your leek. This is the same reason you fill your dibber hole with water not soil. Use a plastic collar to blanche more of your leek. That way there's a lot less chance of having a gritty leek for tea.
Wish me luck...