Blanching leeks

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mattwragg94

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Blanching leeks
« on: June 06, 2012, 12:28 »
Ok so as some of you may know my leeks have been in around 1 month and are around the same size as pencils - however what i want to know is how do i blanch them, i have some bits of pipe that im planning on using, do i just put the pipe around the stem and fill the pipe with soil?

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sunshineband

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Re: Blanching leeks
« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2012, 12:30 »
You can earth them up like potatoes

or put the pipes round them to keep out the light

Either way, try not to get soil in between the leaf joints
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mattwragg94

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Re: Blanching leeks
« Reply #2 on: June 06, 2012, 12:54 »
so if i put a pipe around them - do i need to fill the pipe with soil?

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Aunt Sally

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Re: Blanching leeks
« Reply #3 on: June 06, 2012, 13:08 »
Never bothered with blanching leeks.  I just dib a deep hole when planting then and drop them in, after trimming the roots and leaves a bit.  No need to fill the hole, just water them in.

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Aunt Sally

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angelavdavis

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Re: Blanching leeks
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2012, 13:42 »
so if i put a pipe around them - do i need to fill the pipe with soil?

No, my understanding was that the leek will grow to fill the gap.  I actually grow mine like Aunt Sally but have toyed with the idea of using pipes as I had a load left by the previous plotholder.
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sunshineband

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Re: Blanching leeks
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2012, 14:17 »
so if i put a pipe around them - do i need to fill the pipe with soil?

No it is there to keep the light off the stem so it goes white (blanches)

Like Aunty, I just put mine in a deep hole to start with, and apart from a little earth drawn up around them if there is space, then I just let them alone.

Not sure they would grow in thickness to fill the pipe--- they might grow taller I suppose
« Last Edit: June 06, 2012, 14:19 by sunshineband »

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TerryB

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Re: Blanching leeks
« Reply #7 on: June 06, 2012, 14:37 »
I drop mine into holes and then add pipes as they grow.
This extends the blanched section.

No you do not fill the pipes with soil.
 
As well as black plastic drain pipe I also use some heavy cardboard tube about 2in dia which can be cut away if they fill the tube.

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Salmo

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Re: Blanching leeks
« Reply #8 on: June 06, 2012, 15:44 »
You can put lengths of 3 inch drain pipe over them. Always have at least one third of the leaves sticking out of the top. Do not fill with earth. Start with an 8 inch long pipe and either remove and replace with longer pipe or add another bit with duc tape. You will need a cane at the side to keep them steady. The old clay land drain pipes were popular for this.

This is really a show growers technique as it keeps the leeks very clean and easy to lift with no damage. Dibbing them into a hole is easier.



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