Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Leek query

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Leek query

    Why do we top and tail leeks before planting them out?
    aka
    Suzie

  • #2
    The tailing is supposedly to stop the roots getting in a tangle when you put them into your dibbed holes - if the roots are really long, they can end up pointing upwards in the hole. Trimming the leaves is supposed to put less strain on the roots til they recover.

    However. I read a trial a few years ago where they didn't bother and found not much difference in results, so I only trim mine if the roots are ridiculously long.

    Comment


    • #3
      The theory is that by cutting off a lot of root it makes them easier to put into the dibbled hole. Also most of the exposed roots die and the plant rorms new roots anyway from the basal plate.
      The leaves are cut of to stop wind rock and transpiration until the new roots have developed.

      Must admit that I never bother though and transplant them as is!
      My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
      to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

      Diversify & prosper


      Comment


      • #4
        And Sarz can type quicker than me!
        My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
        to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

        Diversify & prosper


        Comment


        • #5
          I trimmed the roots on mine as they were all tangled up together.
          You have to loose sight of the shore sometimes to cross new oceans

          I would be a perfectionist, but I dont have the time

          Comment


          • #6
            I have never trimmed mine so far and all has been good.
            http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/sarajjohnson
            http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...blogs/pipkins/

            Comment


            • #7
              This year I trimmed about half mine when planting and half not, about half were in a real tangle and over long, so they looked nicer.

              (By trimming, I mean ripping the tops and roots off with my hands)

              Absolutely no difference over the whole patch, although I wish I'd planted all the same ones together, so I could see which ones died from white rot, just to see if it made any difference (about 25% died)
              "Orinoco was a fat lazy Womble"

              Please ignore everything I say, I make it up as I go along, not only do I generally not believe what I write, I never remember it either.

              Comment


              • #8
                Well thats a new one on me, I have never heard of it before.
                Gardening ..... begins with daybreak
                and ends with backache

                Comment


                • #9
                  Good 'ere isn't it
                  aka
                  Suzie

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Something else I've learned this year. Mind you, I did consider just trimming off the split ends and maybe using some hair straightners so that they would look much nicer and chic when planted out.
                    Built for comfort, not speed!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I know you're supposed to trim the roots but didn't know about the leaves. Can't say I bother doing either though - leeks will survive pretty much anything.

                      Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

                      Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I wasn't even aware that you were meant to

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I knew you were meant to trim both ends, but in the scramble to get them planted out I just forgot. I have fatter leeks this year than ever before!

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Don't think that it makes any difference either way. I am a trimmer, 1 because it is easier to get them into the dibbed hole and 2 they stand up better with the tops trimmed.

                            Ian

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by annacruachan View Post
                              .... I just forgot. I have fatter leeks this year than ever before!
                              Then I shall follow you
                              aka
                              Suzie

                              Comment

                              Latest Topics

                              Collapse

                              Recent Blog Posts

                              Collapse
                              Working...
                              X