[ness]

Hello
I posted earlier about my leeks - they went through a bit of a scabby phase but now seem to be pulling threw.  But now they are flowering, what does this mean? Will they now die or does this not effect how they will develop?
Cheers
Ness x

[muntjac]

dig em up n eat em ,, freeze what ya can to save them

[ness]

Is that it then munty?  They wont grow any more now?

[Selkie]

if they're flowering they probably aren't very edible - they kind of lose alot of the outer layers that make up the leek and just have one big central 'stalk' which is quite tough :cry:

[muntjac]

no they are bolting ,its really not werth doing anymore for them except eating them  

[ness]

Thanks you two, so thats what "bolting" is! What causes it?

[muntjac]

conditions of weather etc .

[Selkie]

think it can be because of stress of some kind - like lack of water - the plant tries to set seed as soon as possible

[ness]

Oh poo, I expected them to last threw winter.  Well leek and tattie soup all round,
Thanks for advice
Ness

[littlemisssunshine]

I am eating mine too Ness - had two bowls of leek and tatty soup.

Enjoy  

[WG.]

At this time of year, Ness, I'd be tempted to leave just a few of them in the ground as an experiment.  Remove the scape (flowering stalk) as low down as you can without damaging the other leaves.

I reckon they'll last a while that way since, even in Devon, they won't be doing much growing now.

[gobs]

Generally very true, but you are surprisingly far away in practice.  
And I'm only in mid ways.  
It just depends what the weather throws at you really.

[Hampshire Hog]

My main crop did this a few weeks back but were ok once frozen. I have used them in soup and stews etc where them being frozen doesn't affect taste. I was told by others on my allotment that mine were in too early (planted at home under cover early Feb) and that is why they wouldn't stand through winter. I have some I put in a bit later (April) they are still ok showing no sign of bolting.

Cheers HH

[DeadlyNightshade]

Oh Ness,  leave them in!!

I left 5 stalks in that had started flowering in springtime and had the most beautiful flowers for over 4 month... bright pink and high. Actually I'm  going to try to put some in the front on the drive way bed, where I only have flowers.

eating wise they do have nothing else but a hard centre

[Selkie]

i agree - they have lovely flowers. you could spend £ and £'s on alium bulbs for fancy flowers in your flower bed but if you just leave your leeks flower you get the same effect!