Too early to sow leeks indoors?

[hortus]

I've seen that some of my allotment neighbours are talking about sowing leeks now. They do poly tunnel garden and I don't, I just have the beginnings of raised beds (newly acquired plot in July) and I know one of them shows his leeks.

My question is is it time for a 'plot to plate' type gardener to sow leeks for the windowsill?

[Thelma Sanders]

You can sow them early, but I find they go to seed if sown early, one year my Feb sown leeks were ready in August when I still wanted to eat salads!
So now I don't sow them until the last couple of weeks in March, in deep trays, and then plant them in the potato bed, after the new potatoes have been lifted.

[Snadger]

I would be guided by the seed packet for when to sow them. The show leek growers will usually grow from there own collected pips or grass, sown early with heat and growlights. The leeks will be clones of the original.

[geepee]

I would be guided by the seed packet for when to sow them. The show leek growers will usually grow from there own collected pips or grass, sown early with heat and growlights. The leeks will be clones of the original.

I agree with Snag' on this one.
Problem with 'Pot Leeks ' is if sown too early they can mature too early as Thelma says.
sure we are all impatient to get things growing but some times 'Patience is a virtue'.
personally, I sow my pot Leek seed,(Depending on variety, see packet) about Feb' in the prop and then under lights if need be until hardening off outdoors as good plants about Pencil size into pots/containers that have done early POTATOES .....same compost with a bit BFB in same pots.....So yeah get em going early but Never fear in the absence of pests and diseases , they will perform.
Same rules as any plants started indoors , never let them take a 'Knock' or backward step by putting out too soon . Ie its rewarding to get things growing early as long as you have the facility to keep them under suitable protection until Ma nature is ready to take over .
Gp

[hortus]

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate your feedback.


I'm a complete newbie and a little afraid of my shadow as I've come up against a little prejudice being a young woman refusing to garden in a poly tunnel. My dad grew on open ground and I want to follow in his footsteps, albeit 28 years later, and the irony is he won several awards for his leeks but I was too young to pick up on the knowledge before he died. I just want to do him proud, show the old guys that I can garden and just avoid embarrassing fails because they will tell me that they told me so.

I just want to enjoy my gardening in peace but I have a bit of a beacon on my head really.

I'll wait on the seed sowing. Again, thank you.

[fishpond]

After Feb 14th does me in heated G/house-propagator, open ground when they are pencil size---with plenty of manure on top----no fertilizer.
Hope this 'elps.
Dependant on variety.

[Dynamite]

Hi Hortus. I’m sure you your Dad would be extremely proud of you already by doing what you are and having the interest in it in the first place. I would be proud as punch if my kids followed in my footsteps and even prouder that they had the confidence to do it their own way.

I would go with what the packet of seeds advises. I’m an improving amateur and picked up things along the way from more experienced people on here but still put my own slant on things. I’ve also done a bit of trial and error learning and I reckon most people on here and out there including your Dad went through themselves to find out the best methods and ways.

As you said, you haven’t got his knowledge on what he did but by the fact you are physically doing it, he must have prepared you well and filled you with confidence and given you the skills to go and give it a go.

In my humble opinion and not having the pleasure of knowing either of you, you’re already following in his footsteps and making him proud so keep it up, post plenty of questions on here and get stuck in.

ENJOY IT.

Kind Regards.........Rob

[Chestnut]

I am a newbie too, only done one season so far. The way I look at it is that I have achieved several ‘personal bests’ on the plot this year, and that is something I am proud of.
At our site, stuff like raised/unraised beds, polytunnel/GH/shed/pond/fruit/flowers on the plot are regarded as simply matters of personal preference - It doesn’t matter as long as most of the plot is cultivated.
The trick is not to show anyone your ‘plan’, and sow extra seeds so you have a bit of a surplus to fill in any gaps. No one will know you changed your plan part way through the year ;-)

[Paulie]

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate your feedback.


I'm a complete newbie and a little afraid of my shadow as I've come up against a little prejudice being a young woman refusing to garden in a poly tunnel. My dad grew on open ground and I want to follow in his footsteps, albeit 28 years later, and the irony is he won several awards for his leeks but I was too young to pick up on the knowledge before he died. I just want to do him proud, show the old guys that I can garden and just avoid embarrassing fails because they will tell me that they told me so.

I just want to enjoy my gardening in peace but I have a bit of a beacon on my head really.

I'll wait on the seed sowing. Again, thank you.

Hi Hortus

It's your plot - I suggest you do things your own way and do your best to ignore anyone who doesn't like it - it's none of their business! I have seen it before where older men look down their noses at young women. Perhaps you'll be a pioneer for other young women who might be inspired by you...

Good luck!

Paulie

[hortus]

Thank you all for your support! Words like you have typed are rare in real life via people I know. For strangers to type such supportive and kind things is very special indeed. Thank you.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Hortus and welcome We all garden differently - there is no right or wrong way. Some want to grow for show or to be the biggest and bestest, others (probably the majority) grow to eat and, as long as they grow something edible they're happy.
You'll develop your own style over time by finding out what suits you and your plot best, by trial and error. Seed packet advice is a good start and asking questions on here is also good. Just remember that we'll give you different answers as there is no single way to do anything!.
There are some Growing Guides on the Forum too which are good background. Here's Growing Leeks | How To Grow | Grow Your Own

Don't be afraid to ask - no questions are too daft for us to answer. Believe me, I've been trying to confuse the rest for years
Your Dad would be proud of you - as are we.

[geepee]

Hi Hortus and welcome aboard.
Luv your attitude and approach to ward your plot and your Dad's memory.......Go for it girl....enjoy and be Happy.....youll always find help, support and advice from folk on here ...as for the others just let them 'Jog on'.
Gp

[bikermike]

I wouldn't put my leeks in yet. In fact, I'm planning on sewing everything a bit later this year, unless you have really good conditions in your indoor growing area, you run the risk of getting stringy things. OTOH, last years' leeks are still happily in the ground (well, the ones I haven't eaten yet...)

Hope you continue to enjoy your plot. When I started, I had the more senior female from the next plot busy trying to tell me how to weed...
Without wishing to approve of that sort of thing, do bear in mind they will have seen new allotmenteers come and go (sometimes very quickly), and you'll find a lot of them will come round when it turns out that you are here for the duration.

[Chestnut]

I wouldn't put my leeks in yet. In fact, I'm planning on sewing everything a bit later this year, unless you have really good conditions in your indoor growing area, you run the risk of getting stringy things. OTOH, last years' leeks are still happily in the ground (well, the ones I haven't eaten yet...)

Hope you continue to enjoy your plot. When I started, I had the more senior female from the next plot busy trying to tell me how to weed...
Without wishing to approve of that sort of thing, do bear in mind they will have seen new allotmenteers come and go (sometimes very quickly), and you'll find a lot of them will come round when it turns out that you are here for the duration.

I second that. I think the more seasoned plotholders do tend to ‘come around’ when they see that you are committed to the plot, and are making progress in the right direction. Gradually over the first year I found more and more plot holders will stop for a chat- and also seem to offer advice less frequently now that my plot isn’t 6 foot high with weeds ;-)
I heard many differing views from fellow plotholders when we first arrived- each wholeheartedly recommending their preferred way of doing things-and often conflicting with the person we had spoken to an hour earlier. All well meant, but at times a bit bewildering.
You will find that opinions will vary on here too, but with more grapes posting here than I have fellow plotholders, I often find the range of opinions is a bit more balanced!

[veggiechicken]

You will find that opinions will vary on here too, but with more grapes posting here than I have fellow plotholders, I often find the range of opinions is a bit more balanced!

Opinions - balanced???? There's not much balanced on here