How's yer 'grass' leeks doing?

[Snadger]

Just took some off a leek head I had standing in water. Came away very easily and they are now planted up in modules in a tray.
I did the same last October and I'm still eating the leeks. Rather than seed my biggest leek I'll collect seed from the one that lasts the longest without going to seed.
By selection I should be able to get a leek which will grow for 18 months without going to seed.

I've also been given some seeds off a monster show winning leek when the grower shaved the head to get more grass leeks. Once these dry out I might even try an early sowing of these!

[Pies]

Didn't have any leeks to shave,but i did do a red onion.My grass is growing very well in a seed tray (see my other thread for piccy) they have grown to about 4" now,I'm a bit concerned they will bolt with all the hot days we've had down here lately.

Still nothing ventured nothing gained

[zazen999]

Got a pot of them in the greenhouse but not looked at them since last week [due to being on holiday] - they looked nice and strong before I went away....

[denise]

Sorry - grass leeks?

[Snadger]

Sorry - grass leeks?

Blanched Leeks from Bulbils, Pips or Grass by Medwyn Williams MBE FNVS, Chairman of The National Vegetable Society

There are other threads on it as well...........somewhere!

[jacob]

I've certainly got a lot of leeks that look like grass...

[kentvegplot]

Ah, so that's what has happened to some of my leeks! I bought in seedlings (seed failed - again) and one or two of them now look like bunches of grass....so now I need to seperate them and grow them on individually? (Or is it too late in the season for that?)

[Pies]

Ah, so that's what has happened to some of my leeks! I bought in seedlings (seed failed - again) and one or two of them now look like bunches of grass....so now I need to seperate them and grow them on individually? (Or is it too late in the season for that?)

Perfect time to do it

[zazen999]

Ah, so that's what has happened to some of my leeks! I bought in seedlings (seed failed - again) and one or two of them now look like bunches of grass....so now I need to seperate them and grow them on individually? (Or is it too late in the season for that?)

Tis a different thing, the grass Snadger mentions is taken from the seed heads rather than yours which would be from seed; but yes - you can separate them now.

Blanched Leeks from Bulbils, Pips or Grass by Medwyn Williams MBE FNVS, Chairman of The National Vegetable Society

There are other threads on it as well...........somewhere!

Cheers my old chum for this - if only for the comment that Medwyn uses concreting sand for his leeks [as do I] - so I will use this in future 'what sort of sand can I use] arguments. Top Banana Snadge

[zazen999]

A pic of my leek grass.

Took as a head of leek about 6 weeks ago

Left until yesterday and this was taken just before planting the lot out.

[Snadger]

A pic of my leek grass.

Took as a head of leek about 6 weeks ago

Left until yesterday and this was taken just before planting the lot out.

Looking good Zaz..............mine are mere babbies compared to those.

I tried to get some off a local champion leek grower, or even a champion leek to grow my own but it was not to be. He had just 'shaved' his show leek head so not to be outdone I asked him for some of the shavings which he kindly obliged me with. Because they aren't clones of his original leek there's no fear of me poaching 'His' strain. Dried them out for a couple of weeks indoors and sowed some of the seeds a couple of days ago. Also kept some back for a spring sowing.
My grass leeks are only about 3 inches tall and weren't taken from a particularily big leek! They will still be good for the pot though!

[binley100]

I've read all this about 3 times and looked at the link , it's either my age or the three glasses of red stuff I've just drunk cos I still can't get my head round it. Is there a step by step idiots guide to all this ?

[Pies]

Zaz they look very good when did you start them off ?
My onion grass seem to be rotting away it looks like the have botrytis

[Pies]

I've read all this about 3 times and looked at the link , it's either my age or the three glasses of red stuff I've just drunk cos I still can't get my head round it. Is there a step by step idiots guide to all this ?

When a leek sends up a flower head you allow the flower to form.Then you cut of all the little flowers,you leave the centre ball alone.Henc the term shave it.

Then you do nothing and thelek will go into an alternative reproduction system.This is usually bu means of grass or pips

Pips are minature leek bulbs less than 1/4" in size from these leek plants grow.As they are so small and numerous they look like grass is growing, but infact eack grass is an indvidual plant.

You carefully remove them and plant each one.As each plant is a clone of the parent they will carry the same DNA

The advantages of doing this are that you have selected a plant that grows well in your soil and your growing techniques.The plants should all be of similar size.Its also free

HTH

[binley100]

Bit thick here, but I'm guessing the pips/grass grows at the soil end of the leek as opposed to the flower end...........Is it better than letting the flower head go to seed ?