Leek seed germination.

[Scoot]

You can do Scoot but they may rot, I use plastic pipe.......32mm, 40mm, 63mm...........whatever I can lay my hands on.

Good point. How do you collar them exactly as I've never done it before. Do you just have the top of the collar up to where the leaf growth bit is and then put bigger collars on them the bigger they get?

[Bill HH]

2 leeks about 1 1/2 inches across were priced at �1.30 in our local co op! Its an utter joke.

[Bigmallly]

Is it worth putting loo role collars on them when they get bigger to blanch the stem more?

You can do Scoot but they may rot, I use plastic pipe.......32mm, 40mm, 63mm...........whatever I can lay my hands on.

[Scoot]

Its hard not to get soil in them if you bury them deeply to get a nice long white part. The way to deal with it when you harvest the leeks is to cut them lengthways about half way through, open them like a book and rinse under running water from the root end downwards. You can usually see if there is any grit in there by easing the layers apart near the leaf joints. I always do this with leeks whether home grown or bought.

Thanks for the tip. I shall do it that way when I harvest them.

Is it worth putting loo role collars on them when they get bigger to blanch the stem more?

[Penellype]

Its hard not to get soil in them if you bury them deeply to get a nice long white part. The way to deal with it when you harvest the leeks is to cut them lengthways about half way through, open them like a book and rinse under running water from the root end downwards. You can usually see if there is any grit in there by easing the layers apart near the leaf joints. I always do this with leeks whether home grown or bought.

[Scoot]

There's only a little bit in so hopefully it'll be alright.

[Bren In Pots]

I usually end up with a bit of soil in my leeks but not a lot that it causes a problem.

[Scoot]

Anyone lol?

[Scoot]

Just checked my leeks there this morning and looked down on each of them sitting in their dibber holes and all I have to say is I'd love to know how the hell people don't get soil in the growing bit where the leaves come out of as nearly all of mine have. Anyone else have this problem?

Does it matter?

[Scoot]

Just put my leeks out this morning into dibber holes and then watered into the holes. Was just wondering, do they have to stand straight up because I just can't get mine to stand straight. Or will they straighten up themselves?

[Scoot]

What is the ideal depth of hole to put leeks into once they are ready to go into the garden. Mine will be going out soon so I was just wondering.

[Ovce dom�c�]

I find the only way to get the pencil thick leeks is to plant them in pots that are about 6 inches in depth, or a cheap plastic trough like I did. Anything less and they seem to stall at "pencil lead" thickness until I plant out.

I can't say I notice a difference in the end result, but the pencil thick ones are just that little more robust and can be treated a bit more roughly when planting into their final position. I subsequently get fewer transplant victims, if only because pigeons have a harder job trampling over them.

Yeah basically skipping the seed tray stage and putting them straight into the pots. Ive got some parsley in a similar vessel to yours this year.

Ill see how they end up this year, then try half and half next year to compare how the leeks grow in different containers. Maybe this type is just a slow starter, its the Meziers long winter leek.

[Valleyman]

Looks like elephant grass, they really are moving along. Mine have been sowed for a couple of months in trays, then potted out about 3 weeks ago. They have jumped up a bit in the pots but just look like chives at best. I think Ill have to put them out soon anyway even without being pencil thick.

I find the only way to get the pencil thick leeks is to plant them in pots that are about 6 inches in depth, or a cheap plastic trough like I did. Anything less and they seem to stall at "pencil lead" thickness until I plant out.

I can't say I notice a difference in the end result, but the pencil thick ones are just that little more robust and can be treated a bit more roughly when planting into their final position. I subsequently get fewer transplant victims, if only because pigeons have a harder job trampling over them.

[Ovce dom�c�]

Mine are approaching pencil thickness at the moment. Pic attached.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]56317[/ATTACH]

Just awaiting another crop of of little gem before they get planted out into their final positions.

Looks like elephant grass, they really are moving along. Mine have been sowed for a couple of months in trays, then potted out about 3 weeks ago. They have jumped up a bit in the pots but just look like chives at best. I think Ill have to put them out soon anyway even without being pencil thick.

[veggiechicken]

I've just sown my leeks