do you leek?

[oldmoleskins]

Having just bought some plants, and about to install them, thought I'd remind you of "the Home Grown Greengrocer" thread.
Leeks are among the easiest of veg (ok, particularly if you buy the plants), will stay in the ground until needed, and just look so knobby, somehow...

gardenworld.proboards.com/post/55174/thread

OM.

[Chuckles]

Well I don't know about this buying in Leeks ;D I followed David K's tips in "the Home Grown Greengrocer" thread on growing Leeks to the letter except for the final planting. I've used a secret weapon, drainpipes

Some good tips on growing other veggies in that thread too OM thanks for the reminder

[isabella]

Like this Chuckles

[4pygmies]

Leeks are a WONDROUS vegetable - we grow thousands of them at my dear friend's little market garden operation and I spend the winter sending them off to market every week. I still like to eat them too! They are really easy to grow, very reliable and taste gorgeous. Every garden should have a patch. I don't think they're knobbly, OM, I think they're noble!

[oldmoleskins]

Not "knobbly" 4P, knobby!

OM.

[pdblake]

I've just now looked out the window at my normally free-draining veg patch and seen my leeks sat in what looks like a couple of inches of rain water (which is still slinging it down now and is set for the next few days, just too much water all at once). Is this going to do them any harm?

[Chuckles]

isabella said:

Like this Chuckles

Hey Isabella how come your garden looks just like mine

OM do you mean Knobby as in Perfect. OH uses that saying too

Would think short term the rain will bother them PDB, lets hope it drains away and stops raining soon.

[oldmoleskins]

greety said:

OM do you mean Knobby as in Perfect. OH uses that saying too

Yep, as in "isn't it a knobby one and just the proper style..." or is this going to end up cross reffed with 'misheard song lyrics'..

OM.

[Chuckles]

greety said:

Would think short term the rain will bother them PDB, lets hope it drains away and stops raining soon.

Whooops typo

Would think short term the rain won't bother them PDB, lets hope it drains away and stops raining soon.

[4pygmies]

They might be a bit more prone to rust in this wet, warm weather but that doesn't affect the lovely taste when you harvest them. The only time they're really bothered by too much wet is in the cold winter when they can go a bit mushy.
Knobby? I'll just add that to my lexicon of rather nice words then, OM!

[Tig]

I've found a couple of welsh giant leeks with what looks like 'rust' on the leaves today - any advice?

[4pygmies]

If you're going to eat them then just pull the rusty ones first as it doesn't affect the taste, if they are for competiton - um, I dunno - sorry.......it's the warm weather really - they would be better for a drop in temperature.

[Tig]

Competition? Whats one of those then - I just grow em to eat em!! Thanks 4pygmies (hope the goats are OK) I feel much better now someone has re-assured me they will still be fine to harvest. Tig

[Barbara]

OK a question for you all, I'm going to grow leeks for the first time I've bought a pack of seeds (musselburgh ) it says to sow them in a shallow trench, I'm going to use a length of drainpipe for that, but why can you not just sow them straight into the ground ?.

[Jasmine]

I think the idea is that you grow them until they're a few inches high and then you transplant them Barbara. I grow mine in a big deep pot then split them up, make deep holes in the bed they're going to grow in with an old broom handle and drop each seedling into a hole so that only the tops of the leaves are showing. Then you water them so the soil sort of settles around them but not completely and away they go making nice white leeks underground and green leaves above ground!

[Barbara]

Thank's for that info Jas, I didn't know about burying them deep.

[Rosefriend]

Barbara - have a look at this thread... The Home Grown Greengrocer

gardenworld.proboards.com/post/55175/thread

RF

[Barbara]

Thank's RF, much as Jas said really apart from where they were sown.

[Barbara]

I've sown 2 lots today, one lot in a pot, and some more in a drainpipe I'll compare and let you know if there is any difference.

[Jasmine]

I wasn't going to bother with leeks this year but your question changed my mind Barbara so I bought some Musselburgh seeds today!

[Barbara]

Good for you Jas. I hope we both do well, I love leek and potato soup.

[Barbara]

Can I leave leeks in the ground until I need them please or will they go rotten ?.

[andy]

They should be fine Barbara. Most people like them after a bit of frost has hit them. Personally, i've used all mine as i prefer to pick them when they're smaller.....almost giant spring onions

[Barbara]

Thanks andy,

[Barbara]

I've sown lyon (prizetaker) leeks this morning a large tray full, so they should see us into next year for soups, and chicken pies.

[Dutchy]

I planted new winter Leek which I bought.
Planted them deep this time as my hungry monsters seem to snip them off at ground level. At least now the heart will be saved and maybe they grow again if they get cut again.
All my self sown carefully grown leeks have gone into an animal instead of me. Bgr.

[Barbara]

I had a problem on the bottom plot and the leeks were squishy, I looked it up and it's leek moth, I'll have to put a fleece over them next year, the ones on the top plot were fine.

[Dutchy]

We all have something that eats stuff.
My munchers did get some leeks but as I hoped they nibbled through the top bit and now I have leeks growing from their base plate below ground level.
Great since the munching monsters have gone dormant. Fingers crossed nothing else wants them and I may have leek this February

[Dutchy]

Now the days are lengthening I do hope my leek will find strength to grow. The nibbled ones are now ten centimetre high and need to grow quite a lot.
The fun of the winter garden eh?

[mickthecactus]

I have lost my leek crop for the second year running to leek moth.
Onion crop was fine though.