Leek seeds

I'm not altogether sure that they will make it this year...leeks are a right faff when they flower early as the seeds inside need to be black before the first frosts set in; and with summers like this - they tend to get a bit mouldy before the seeds have a chance to mature and dry out.

Are these leeks that have bolted [ie gone to seed early] or that were sown last year and have gone to seed late.

If they have bolted; then all you'll be doing is saving seed from leeks that bolt early, which is not what you want. I tend to save from those that bolt last - so that I am selecting for late bolting....

If they are late flowering [ie sown last year and are at least a year old] then I'd dig them up, and move them now into a greenhouse or a pot where the flower can carry on forming and is out of the rain so that you can prevent any rot or mould forming; and just see if you get the seeds to go black.

If the do, nip off the seed head, and pop it in a paper bag somewhere warm and dark until mid-winter; and you can sow those seeds anytime after dec 22nd....which is the shortest day.