My leeks have bulbed!

Hi All,
My leeks have bulbed, like onions. I think it's probably the heavy clay soil not giving them room (first year on a new alotment). Can I still use them? Will they be OK to eat still?
I'm assuming they will and hope it's just the shape that's wrong and nothing else.

Cheers.

 

Hi Daytona,

That happened to mine when I grew them in Wales. I thought it was the short growing season.

I just pickled them, lovely.

 

Daytona

I think the bulb shape is probably more to do with some kind of stress (lack of water?) than type of soil. Did you put the young plants in with a dibber? If so, they should have had plenty of room to both expand and grow taller. Their odd shape shouldn't affect their taste, though - you'll just need more on your plate!

 

And if anyone asks, tell them they are a new variety of onion rooted leeks.:gnthb::D

 

This bloke has got a very serious looking supervisor,

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFdvPhh_anM"]YouTube - Planting and Growing Leeks Is Easy[/nomedia]

 

I grew leek rooted onions this year, looked just the same.:hehe:

 

Thanks all for your answers.
Flinty, I read about the dibber technique a few days after planting out, so that may well be a problem, and lack of water was a problem mid-summer. I'll definitely go with the dibber next year and try to keep on top off things a bit better!

Cheers.

 

Hi Daytona

When you plant young leeks with a dibber, it helps to trim both the leaves and the roots of the young plants first, before trying to get them into the holes. It seems cruel but they will survive!

I trim the roots to about 60mm long and trim the leaves to about 120mm (very roughly). This makes poking them right down into their holes easier and the shortened leaves are less likely to wilt.

With the leeks in their holes, you then fill up the holes with water.

 

Cheers, Flinty, I'll give that a go next year.
I've grown a few bits in the garden for years but this is my first year with an allotment. I guess it pays to do my research BEFORE planting out!