Cutting off the tops of leeks

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Anton

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Cutting off the tops of leeks
« on: September 25, 2024, 12:59 »
If I cut off the tops of my exuberant leeks (to be able to hoe down the weeds, which I have been doing by hand up until now, and heap up the earth) do I risk attracting pests or causing other damage to the plants? Are there any other strategies for when the tops of leeks are obstructing the passage of my hoe?

Anton

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Anton

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Re: Cutting off the tops of leeks
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2024, 13:32 »
I found this video. Very interesting: _uceJ0pICT4

And as an addition, part of another article:


When folks prepare leeks for market, they typically trim off much of the long, floppy, green upper leaves (“flags”) as they just wilt and are unattractive. However they’re not altogether useless despite their fibrousness. They may be too tough for a vegetable, but I chop those parts and dehydrate them on a screen rack (preferably nylon) hung over the cook stove. When they are brittle-dry, I run them through my Corona grain mill (adjusted so that they don’t gum up the plates) and out comes a brilliant jade-green powder. I may use this in soup stocks but mostly I steep this in a bottle of vegetable oil along with crushed and sifted dried celery leaf (the dark part you throw away), homemade garlic powder and paprika, and maybe some kelp powder.

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Sands

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Re: Cutting off the tops of leeks
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2024, 14:38 »
For next year!  Look at the way the leeks leaves grow. Two sets opposite each other forming a sort of fan shape. Next time you transplant, place each leek with the leaves in a line instead of Higgledy Piddle.The lines will be neat and leaving spacing enough for your hoe weeding is easier.
« Last Edit: September 26, 2024, 14:50 by Sands »

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Anton

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Re: Cutting off the tops of leeks
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2024, 15:34 »
Great tip Sands. Thanks.

Anton

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KalisDad

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Re: Cutting off the tops of leeks
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2024, 19:22 »
I've never topped or tailed my leeks and they have never suffered.
Dad of a beautiful Cyrpus rescue called Kali (she's in the picture), A dog from my favourite place, what a dream

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Anton

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Re: Cutting off the tops of leeks
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2024, 22:14 »
Thanks Kalisdad but I'm no talking about topping and tailing. They are growing well but I just wanted to prune the tops a bit so I could hoe between the rows and heap the earth up.

Anton

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jambop

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Re: Cutting off the tops of leeks
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2024, 11:26 »
I always trim the roots and tops of my transplants and they grow very well. I guess it is just a habit I learned from my dad :lol:

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KalisDad

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Re: Cutting off the tops of leeks
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2024, 18:13 »
Thanks Kalisdad but I'm no talking about topping and tailing. They are growing well but I just wanted to prune the tops a bit so I could hoe between the rows and heap the earth up.

Anton
I've always planted leeks closer together and had a great success rate, this year I have left space for my hobby of getting the hoe out, I've got rust on some leeks and they are smaller than normal, it my be down to the weather, I've never topped my leeks and last year they were show stoppers, let nature run it course while weeding between the lines :)


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