leeks

Hi Guys, I have just had some leek plugs delivered and have them indoors, I was wondering if it would be correct to plant them outside under my polythene tunnels or would a late frost make them bolt.

 

Hi.

I'd have thought that the risk of a heavy frost is now passed. We could still have a ground frost, but your tunnels should provide adequate protection. BTW anyone, can Leeks bolt during the same year?

Cheers...Freddy.

 

Blimey, something I forgot. Are they a decent size? Not much point in planting if they're just like blades of grass.

 

Nearly as big as a pencil.

 

Ahh, right oh. In that case, no reason not to plant them out I reckon. Just do as you suggested, and cover them for a couple of weeks. I assume you're aware of the standard method of planting?

 

Very early ... they'll be ready long before Winter (if they are already pencil-thickness) - and possibly even long before Autumn - which I think is a season too early - but that's just me.

 

While we're on the subject... I've got some I sowed indoors waiting to get big enough to be planted out, but I was thinking of sowing some more direct. Is now a good time to do it? And do they then need to be moved later?

 

I do have some seedlings leeks about 50mm high we grew from seed, but decided to by some plugs off ebay, thought it might stagger the harvest time.

 

Ah, OK, that sounds like a good plan I was worried you would have hundreds of leeks to eat in late Summer !

Yup. You can sow in a seed bed and transplant later, but I find it much easier (well, I can more reliably get a decent sized plant for transplanting) by raising them in pots so I can pamper them a bit - shelter, regular watering, and in the early days I keep them under cover.

I use a polystyrene box (the sort of thing Fishmongers have fish in ...), filled with multi-purpose compost, and I painstakingly place each seed about 3/4" - 1" apart. The resulting seedlings are not competing with each other for light & air as they are not overcrowded, and when transplanting I tip the whole lot out, and shake as much soil off as possible, and then shake them in a bucket of water to get the rest of the soil off so that the roots & plants can be easily separated.

It takes a couple of months to get the seedlings big enough to plant out, but don't worry if they are thinner than the recommended "pencil thickness", they will still make leeks good enough to eat, they just might be a bit skinny - but you can always pig-out and cook & eat twice as many

Yes, I think so. I use a dibber to make a hole about 6" deep, drop a plant into it, then water the hole (I'm not trying to fill it with soil, but some soil washes down the hole each time I water). That 6" planting depth creates the white "blanched" bottom end to the leek which is the tastiest bit.

 

Thank you for your help, I think we shall have an ample supply for this year by the sound of things.

 

I keep records of number grown and record (in addition to sowing / planting dates) the date of first and last harvest, and then I make notes on what to adjust for future years.

Adding the number that you throw away (i.e. grew too many) or the number you bought from Supermarket (too few) would help you get it spot-on in future years. I hate putting effort into growing things that are not then eaten - I won't even bring anything into the kitchen in good readiness - I only go out to "harvest" once the preparation for the meal starts - could call that "fresh produce" rather than "super-tight" I suppose?!!

I also record start/end date of when the Cherry tree flowers, when the copper beech comes into leaf, and the Oak and Ash (the old wives tale is ... just that!) and when I last had OCD (that seems to always say "Today" !!)

 

Don't forget the holding bed....

http://gardenerscornermagazine.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/gardeners-corner-magazine-page.html

 

Hi Ziggy
What sort of temperature will make them bolt, they forcast -2 this weekend and even under polythene that is quite severe. i have no experience to draw on yet so need some advice.

 

Being as I was a Chef (Not a cook) I have never had to throw veg away as I can always find a way to use what we have, even when we have a glut.

Which was it this year..Ash or Oak?

Steve...