Leeks (method)

  • 17 Replies
  • 4504 Views
*

Aidy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Born n bred Lancastrian living in tropical Blackpool
  • 5745
    • Aidy Neal Photography
Leeks (method)
« on: February 13, 2018, 11:42 »
I have for many a year used the DD method and on the whole its been very good and never had any problems.

I was going through me seed packets etc and read the back of my Leeks, it states "Once early sowings have germinated transplant into individual pots and grow on under glass until April before moving to a cold frame to harden off before planting out at 25-30cm (10-12in) apart in the row and 45cm (18in) between rows. Outdoor sowings once large enough to handle , carefully lift plants and transplant to the same spacings as above using a trowel or dibber, and water in".

Now the seed companys should know what is best for their plants and offer the best advice for success right?

Out of interest does anyone follow their advice on this and how have you found the results?
Punk isn't dead...it's underground where it belongs. If it comes to the surface it's no longer punk...it's Green Day!

*

mumofstig

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 57877
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2018, 12:25 »
I think they are assuming the seeds would be sown in a small container and the germinated seedlings would need pricking out. It they are sown a la DD they are regularly spaced so they won't need pricking out or potting on.

Or are they an exhibition variety? Medwyn's have been individually potting up leeks and onions over the last few weeks  ;)

*

Goosegirl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Caton, Lancaster.
  • 8941
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2018, 12:40 »
I use small pots with MPC and just sprinkle the seeds on, cover with sieved MPC then water from the bottom. When they have 3-4 leaves and are past the crook stage, I remove them and dibble them individually into deeper pots (9 per pot). When I transplant them I trim the roots as they settle better in the hole but leave the leaves alone.
I work very hard so don't expect me to think as well.

*

Mr Dog

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Pontefract
  • 1079
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2018, 13:01 »
I start them off in 6 or 8" pots/seed trays/cat litter trays (whatever I pick up first!) simply sprinkling the seed around and covering with compost like Goosegirl. They are then left until big enough to go into their final planting holes - tip out wash in a bucket of water, separate, trim roots and into the dibbed hole.

*

Aidy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Born n bred Lancastrian living in tropical Blackpool
  • 5745
    • Aidy Neal Photography
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2018, 13:08 »
I think they are assuming the seeds would be sown in a small container and the germinated seedlings would need pricking out. It they are sown a la DD they are regularly spaced so they won't need pricking out or potting on.

Or are they an exhibition variety? Medwyn's have been individually potting up leeks and onions over the last few weeks  ;)
Nope normal kitchen Leeks.
This is the bit before the other bit  :unsure:
"Early sowings can be made under glass at 14C . Sow the seed into pots or trays and cover the seed with a sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. For Outdoor sowings , sow the seed thinly, 1.5cm (1/2in) deep in drills 30cm (12in) apart in soil which has been raked to a fine tilth. Water ground regularly, especially during dry periods."
So if as I used to before the DD method came to light, I would sown in a large pot, prick out the the best of the bunch to transplant.
might just prick out 6 or so and see if it will in anyway make the difference, doubt it but time on me hands and all that, just wondered if any actually follwed their advice!

*

Dev

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Hull
  • 158
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2018, 18:49 »
I'm going to try Charles Dowding's multi sowing method this year. Sow three seeds in each small module and plant out without faffing around with washing, trimming etc. plant at what seems right - probably 8" to 10 " between plants and the same between rows, and probably smaller than the usual "pencil thickness". Cover with fleece and hey presto - large spring onions (I hope not).

*

Mr Dog

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Pontefract
  • 1079
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2018, 19:11 »
I'm going to try Charles Dowding's multi sowing method this year. Sow three seeds in each small module and plant out without faffing around with washing, trimming etc. plant at what seems right - probably 8" to 10 " between plants and the same between rows, and probably smaller than the usual "pencil thickness". Cover with fleece and hey presto - large spring onions (I hope not).

I've used that method and got decent sized leeks. My main problem was rust - it was usually an issue anyway on the 'old' plot but was much worse with the clumps. Rust's not so much an issue on the 'new' plot (in fact last year I planted out 2 reserve clumps of about 20 leeks, each sown in 4" pots, and they were fine) so I may try again with a few this year.

*

juvenal

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Dorset coast
  • 284
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2018, 23:51 »
All seems very complicated. I simply fill a 10" pot with compost. 25 seeds spaced around in it. Into kitchen with clingfilm over until 'loops' appear on the surface.  Clingfilm off. When plants are an 2 inches high into the cold frame to grow on until 8" tall and .25 inches thick.

Then seize dibber, make holes and plants onto the plot in final position.

*

DD.

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Loughborough. a/k/a Digger Dave. Prettiest Pumpkin prizewinner 2011
  • 30465
  • Pea God & Founder Member of The NFGG
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2018, 06:35 »
All seems very complicated. I simply fill a 10" pot with compost. 25 seeds spaced around in it. Into kitchen with clingfilm over until 'loops' appear on the surface.  Clingfilm off. When plants are an 2 inches high into the cold frame to grow on until 8" tall and .25 inches thick.

Then seize dibber, make holes and plants onto the plot in final position.

That is, in fact, virtually a down-sized version of my method originally referred to:

DD.'s leek method
Did it really tell you to do THAT on the packet?

*

Growster...

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Hawkhurst, Kent
  • 13162
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2018, 06:54 »
As we only use winter leeks, I sow these around the second week in March, get them germinated indoors, then leave them in a frost-free greenhouse to get to biro-refill-size stage.

DD's method is a great way to bring them on and we have done this for several years now, but as we have so much space, I won't use that this year and plant about 150 - 200 directly into the soil.

I think feeding is then very important, so it's comfrey and nettle spray regularly, to increase the yield.

Other than that, they look after themselves. Touch wood we don't get the moth or too much rust...

*

DD.

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Loughborough. a/k/a Digger Dave. Prettiest Pumpkin prizewinner 2011
  • 30465
  • Pea God & Founder Member of The NFGG
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2018, 07:34 »
Touch wood we don't get the moth or too much rust...

I now have to net mine against allium leaf miner.  :(

*

Plot 1 Problems

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Worcester
  • 3611
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2018, 07:51 »
Touch wood we don't get the moth or too much rust...

I now have to net mine against allium leaf miner.  :(

Same, it's so depressing :(

*

Dev

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Hull
  • 158
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2018, 11:04 »
Touch wood we don't get the moth or too much rust...

I now have to net mine against allium leaf miner.  :(
Touch wood - it hasn't reached us in Hull yet :)

Same, it's so depressing :(

*

Growster...

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Hawkhurst, Kent
  • 13162
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2018, 12:14 »
Touch wood we don't get the moth or too much rust...

I now have to net mine against allium leaf miner.  :(

We have lost half a dozen veg to the layers splitting and looking a bit brown, but I don't think it's Allium Leaf Miner, as there are no signs of anything nasty, just this beige 'cut' down the length of the leek!

Like most veg susceptible to any disease - especially tomatoes - we tend to grow much more than we need. Any spares at the end get forced on neightbours and families...

*

ryetek

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Location: Ryedale, North Yorks
  • 923
Re: Leeks (method)
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2018, 12:34 »
We have lost half a dozen veg to the layers splitting and looking a bit brown, but I don't think it's Allium Leaf Miner, as there are no signs of anything nasty, just this beige 'cut' down the length of the leek!
Some of ours are like that too Growster but only about 10 or 12 so far. We have had far bigger issues with bolting  >:(



xx
Sowing shallot seeds using DD's litter tray method for leeks

Started by Snoop on Grow Your Own

2 Replies
1972 Views
Last post May 19, 2010, 12:35
by Snoop
xx
No-dig method - how do you do it?

Started by littlelisa on Grow Your Own

6 Replies
8566 Views
Last post May 02, 2008, 10:58
by Salkeela
xx
Planting out into a No Dig method

Started by Tommy54321 on Grow Your Own

3 Replies
753 Views
Last post June 24, 2020, 16:40
by AnneB
xx
Deep Bed Method

Started by Vienna Phil on Grow Your Own

12 Replies
7703 Views
Last post July 22, 2008, 09:19
by Bombers
 

Page created in 0.317 seconds with 38 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |