I need help with a Leek

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Trevorfm

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I need help with a Leek
« on: January 04, 2017, 22:23 »
I have just finished my first year of trying to grow vegetables and am really looking forward to the new season.
I grew some leeks from plug plants. Initially planting them in the ground until pencil thickness. Then transplanting them with roots trimmed into a trench and slowly filling the trench around the growing shaft.
The overall results were excellent for a first attempt.
My question is whether or not I should have trimmed the healthy foliage during the season and if so, to what extent?  Does aggressive leaf trimming help to make the Leek shaft thicker?

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mumofstig

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2017, 23:18 »

My question is whether or not I should have trimmed the healthy foliage during the season and if so, to what extent?  Does aggressive leaf trimming help to make the Leek shaft thicker?
No - the leaves make the 'food' for the plant. Cut them back too much and they will stay thin and weedy, having to use up their energy to regrow rather than fatten.

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BumbleJo

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2017, 07:00 »
I don't trim the roots either and get excellent results..

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Growster...

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2017, 07:52 »
I never trim leeks, and leave the roots as long as possible too!

Leeks love a liquid manure feed too!

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lettice

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2017, 09:34 »
Another here that has never trimmed the leek roots or tops.

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DD.

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2017, 10:02 »
Whereas I trim the roots when transplanting. The plant drops right down to the bottom of the dibbed hole, without sitting on a bunched up clump of roots.
Did it really tell you to do THAT on the packet?

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juvenal

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2017, 20:53 »
On Dorset coast, I'm sowing leek seed this week, a dozen spaced seeds to a 6" pot. Out into a cold conservatory. When they 'show' in a fortnight they'll go into outdoor cold frames until ready for the dibber and the allotment.

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Paul Plots

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2017, 01:20 »
Whereas I trim the roots when transplanting. The plant drops right down to the bottom of the dibbed hole, without sitting on a bunched up clump of roots.

That's the only reason I trim my leek roots - makes life easier getting them in the dibbed hole.

Tried not trimming - night-mare.... the blighters simply wouldn't drop down into place - even tried with larger, wider holes. What a fuss!

No. Trim & drop'em in. Couldn't agree more DD.


Then.... no more trimming anything till harvest.  ;)
Never keep your wish-bone where your back-bone ought to be.

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Growster...

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2017, 11:54 »
If you have the time, dip the roots in a bucket of water, where they'll gather together and drop in easily...

Depends on how many you want to do though!

Are you still using your patented cat litter tray system DD? It does work very well for me! Main trouble is that we usually go for about 220 - 240, and have only one litter tray...

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DD.

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2017, 13:21 »
Yes I do. My advice - get another tray!

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Yorkie

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #10 on: January 08, 2017, 16:14 »
Yes I do. My advice - get another tray!

Drat, I knew there was something else I intended to get at Wilko's  :D

And here's the link to DD's cat litter tray method, for anyone who wants it:
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=26363.0
« Last Edit: January 08, 2017, 16:16 by Yorkie »
I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days all attack me at once...

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tangojulie

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #11 on: January 18, 2017, 09:42 »
Just adding that for smaller quantities, instead of cat litter trays, the deep fruit containers from the supermarket work brilliantly.

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viettaclark

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Re: I need help with a Leek
« Reply #12 on: January 18, 2017, 13:29 »
Or large icecream tubs which I find better because they don't let light in to the roots.



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