Grow Your Own Magazine

Why, oh why?

They are one of my favourite veggies to eat and they were doing great until about a month ago and now they are all going to seed (some in more advanced stages than others) and so I won't have a lovely supply to see me over winter.

Why have they done this so early?

Plants usually bolt because they've had a severe check in there growth.

What type they were,when were they sown,pricked out,climatic conditions can all have a bearing and sometimes, just sometimes, you do everything right and they still bolt!

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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)

Did you sow them too early? I tend to sow mine in March and never have any issues with bolting.

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Kindest regards, David.

http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/
updated - Sunday 19th at 2100hrs

I let my leeks go to seed and transplant the seedlings, with good results.
I now have "wild" leeks growing strong in the parsley bed, the compost heap, but the "proper" leeks, from bought seed, are all infested with leek moth maggots. Methinks Nature knows best (my "wild" potatoes are always earlier and better than bought ones too)

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Cut the seed heads off and hope for the best. They may stand until you are ready to use them. If not you can harvest them, prepare for cooking and freeze.

Thanks for the replies.

I did cut the seed head off some of them but the central stalk has just carried on thickening and maturing.

When I noticed they were bolting, I seeked advice from a couple of seasoned plot holders and they told me that the central part of the leek goes thick and woody and inedible. So obviously something along the growth line has gone wrong with them as I have two patches of leeks, one on the plot itself and the spares I had, I tucked into a patch of garden at home and they have done the same.

I am thinking that just maybe I have had a duff batch of seed that weren't quite up to the job.

I am going to see if I can salvage any outer parts and make up some soup with them and 'have another go next year' <rolleyessmiley>

Hi i planted my seek seeds in pots in late Jan ,Mainly because they are Robinsons giant blanch . They are going well nice and thick planted out in May .

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The force is strong in this one!