Every autumn I plant little leeks with renewed optimism and every spring they appear as skinny spring onions in spite of having been well fertilised when planted. I have sandy soil which needs a lot of feeding. Is it time I stopped trying to grow leeks?
I sow the seed in the spring and transplant them as what appear to be little spring onions in June after my early potatoes are all dug, by December some of them are ready for lifting and the rest can be left in the ground until they are all used up by about the end of February. I did have an attack of leek moth last August but I cut the tops all down to the ground and removed the grubs and destroyed them and luckily the leeks grew back although I don't think that they grew quite as big as they had done the year before. I use the variety Scotch Flag and have clay soil, this year I will be protecting the plants from the moth.
I agree with everyone else - sow now, transplant in June and, like Lyn, I have just sown my seeds. As part of my general crop-rotation, leeks follow the first-early potatoes and when I lift the spuds I dig in a fair bit of well-rotted manure before putting in the young leek plants as they are greedy feeders. Just last weekend I lifted the last half-row and made a fantastic dish of leeks in cheese sauce - baked until the top started browning. Yum!
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Boil some sliced carrots with some chopped onion. When half cooked add the sliced leek. When cooked, drain thoroughly but retain some of the cooking liquid. When making the cheese sauce use one third carrot/leek liquid to two thirds milk. Mix all together then place under a hot grill, or in a hot oven, until brown. You will not be disappointed.
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No daydaisy, just plant them a lot earlier in June or July.
I have just set my seed, plant out about june, harvest next winter
I sow the seed in the spring and transplant them as what appear to be little spring onions in June after my early potatoes are all dug, by December some of them are ready for lifting and the rest can be left in the ground until they are all used up by about the end of February. I did have an attack of leek moth last August but I cut the tops all down to the ground and removed the grubs and destroyed them and luckily the leeks grew back although I don't think that they grew quite as big as they had done the year before. I use the variety Scotch Flag and have clay soil, this year I will be protecting the plants from the moth.
Thank you for your replies! I will try again as I love leeks and they are quite expensive to buy.
I agree with everyone else - sow now, transplant in June and, like Lyn, I have just sown my seeds. As part of my general crop-rotation, leeks follow the first-early potatoes and when I lift the spuds I dig in a fair bit of well-rotted manure before putting in the young leek plants as they are greedy feeders. Just last weekend I lifted the last half-row and made a fantastic dish of leeks in cheese sauce - baked until the top started browning. Yum!
Boil some sliced carrots with some chopped onion. When half cooked add the sliced leek. When cooked, drain thoroughly but retain some of the cooking liquid. When making the cheese sauce use one third carrot/leek liquid to two thirds milk. Mix all together then place under a hot grill, or in a hot oven, until brown. You will not be disappointed.