Leek seed germination.

[Kristen]

Tangential point is that many of the Big Name seed companies ship seed potatoes regardless of the weather, so they may well (in a cold snap) get frosted en route to the customer. Small special companies (JBA certainly do) suspend shipment during cold snaps.

I suppose seed could be subjected to sub-zero temperatures in the post if sent at the wrong time. Not a problem for vegetable seeds I expect, but I have plenty of [ornamental] exotics that I grow from seed, which the Big Names sell, which might well not be so happy.

Perhaps I should make a concerted effort to buy my seed in late Autumn and make sure its stored how I want it to be ... can't believe I'll ever be that organised though!

[Penellype]

I agree about local garden centres - I do try to support mine whenever possible, but the whole place is a large greenhouse and gets incredibly hot in the summer. I've given up buying seed from there, although I will happliy buy onion sets and seed potatoes in the spring before the temperatures rise, because I know they are fresh into stock and haven't had time to spoil.

[Kristen]

Top tip - don't buy seeds from Amazon

Hmmm ... not sure about that tip.

Amazon themselves sell both Suttons and Mr Forthergills. Premier Seeds and Just Seeds have Marketplace stores on Amazon. All well respected (and DEFRA certified/whatever)

I expect there are some box-shifters on Amazon Marketplace too.

I've had seeds from T&M, direct, which never germinated ... I don't think that germination failure of one packet should count against the supplier (although I would expect them to refund / replace them) - that's bound to happen for one reason or another.

There again my local garden centre is a tin warehouse, gets very hot in summer and freezing cold in winter - until they fire up the heating in the morning. I would think its not a good environment for seeds to be stored.

[rustylady]

I ordered them off amazon only this year. Can't remember what kind they are either. They have been on my window cill since the start of February, but still absolutely nothing. Looks like they are knackered. Bloody rip off haha!

Top tip - don't buy seeds from Amazon. Go to a shop or garden centre and make sure the seeds are well within their sow-by date.

[Thelma Sanders]

I just sowed Neptune leeks today, they're in the cold greenhouse - so fingers crossed

They're also supposed to be rust resistant, we'll see.

[Kristen]

Have you started yours yet, Kristen?

Not quite. My schedule's sowing date for Leeks is 15-March.

[Penellype]

I grow 3 sorts - Musselburgh which are the old reliable variety, although with slightly tougher leaves than some of the newer ones, Albana (Autumn Giant 3) which seems to self-blanch the stems, and Oarsman, which is an expensive F1 hybrid that is supposed to be rust tolerant, but gets rust anyway. I won't be growing Oarsman again once I have finished the seeds.

I always find leeks slow to germinate and the earlier I sow them the worse it seems to be. Early sowings also seem to bolt in summer, so I tend to leave my main sowing until late March or early April.

[bario1]

Have you started yours yet, Kristen?

[Kristen]

Just in case not apparent:

The F1 Carlton is more expensive because it is F1. You will pay more for a packet, AND get fewer seeds (although if you are sowing them in a container you'll get enough germination / transplants for a crop; if you are sowing them direct, outside, you might not and (price apart) Mussleburgh might be better as qty wll enable you to have poor germination, outside, and still have plenty of plants )

[Scoot]

They are duff. Get your money back



Mussleburgh is a common favourite. Its open-pollinated/heritage, so seed is cheap or you'll get lots of seed in a packet!

I like Carlton F1 as I think they grow more consistently fat.

Thanks, i'll buy some of those and give them a try.

[Bohobumble]

... then move outside without the lauds after germination into a cold greenhouse ...

Lauds

are prayers not needed at that point?

[kathyd]

I've had leeks take weeks to germinate in the past - so long that I've given up on them and sown more, then finally they come thru! So even if you sow more, hang onto the pots you've already got and wait and see .

[KevinM67]

I've tried growing my leeks a bit differently this year.

I've used 3 round plastic chocolate tins (celebrations, heroes, etc.) with holes drilled in the bottom and the lids used as trays. The hope is that the extra depth might get them to pencil thickness before planting out.

Mainly filled them with last year's mpc, mixed with some growmore - and with a couple of centimetres of seed compost on top. I keep them on a cold south facing window sill.

After a couple of weeks, they have come up a treat.

[Kristen]

I've even now tried putting some on wet paper towels and still nothing.

They are duff. Get your money back

Think I will be ordering some more. Any tips on the best sorts?

Mussleburgh is a common favourite. Its open-pollinated/heritage, so seed is cheap or you'll get lots of seed in a packet!

I like Carlton F1 as I think they grow more consistently fat.

[Scoot]

Think I will be ordering some more. Any tips on the best sorts?