Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi

I'm not exactly new to growing my own veg, having started with easy stuff like toms, garlic and new potatoes about three years ago, but I'm branching out this year with some allotment favourites such as leeks.

I've sown an early variety (Pandora) in modules in my conservatory, and they are currently wispy little things about 2" high. I thinned them out today, trying to minimise root disturbance on the ones I left in, and fed them a little seaweed meal, but it seems to me that they are growing very slowly. Is this normal? How long can I expect them to take to reach the "pencil" size described in my veg books as the stage where I can plant them out?

Thanks in anticipation!

They will take until about May to get to pencil - then dib a hole - the cut off handle of an old broom is an excellent tool - you want a hole around 6"-8" deep (err... 15-20 cm?) lift all the seedlings, trim roots and tip if that's your thing, and drop one per hole. Water in place.

Thanks! I already have a nice wooden dibber, so I'm all set. Just have to curb my impatience until May...

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Small Plot? No Problem! - my blog about growing organic veg