Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Growster... on May 25, 2013, 07:07

Title: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: Growster... on May 25, 2013, 07:07
Shaun_Darbs has started the discussion again, (be fair to the man, he wasn't here last year, and deserves a mention in dispatches for sheer bravery), and so to renew the optimism of every leek grower here, I'm going to pronounce that all my leek seedlings are the size of a small blade of grass!

There we are!

Grass! Not 'Pencils', not even 'Biro refills', just grass! Small, thin, spindly grass!

(Stands back until DD et al start bombarding everyone with pics of tree trunks and telegraph poles, which have to be dibbled in with a crane...)!
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: Beetroot queen on May 25, 2013, 07:11
Oh dear runs for my tin foil hat.  :lol: mine are tiny too.
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: Growster... on May 25, 2013, 07:12
Your's are gorgeous BQ..;0)
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: Beetroot queen on May 25, 2013, 07:15
I'd win smallest in show but they are all leek  :nowink:
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: Growster... on May 25, 2013, 07:18
I might even mow mine and start again BQ!

Small is beautiful, so we just plant twice as many in case they waver a bit...
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: mumofstig on May 25, 2013, 08:04
Oh ye of little faith!
I think it's fair to say that mine are just as small as last year - and they made it to the kitchen ok  :)

They still have a long time for growing, don't they  ;)
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: Yorkie on May 25, 2013, 10:17
Mine are the same
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: finleyfreyaseth on May 25, 2013, 11:17
wish could grow grass on my lawn like grow leeks lololol beautiful green and wispy  :)
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: devonbarmygardener on May 25, 2013, 12:02
My second sowing are not moving as fast as the first.
The first look great -I'm so chuffed! :D

Normally I buy leek plants ready to go out as I'm normally useless with them!
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: Beetroot queen on May 25, 2013, 13:23
I love the fact they actually came up really, after the awful start we had they deserve a medal for that alone.  :lol:
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: Auntiemogs on May 25, 2013, 14:47
Well, I went for your recommendation this year Growster (Elephant) and I have to say I'm impressed!  They're actually at thick biro refill stage now (a first for me!).  :)
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: al78 on May 25, 2013, 15:51
Here's mine so far. The ones on the left were sown early April (1st Thursday after Easter), the right ones in the modules were sown around mid April. I presume I just leave them to grow a bit more before planting out?

Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: JayG on May 25, 2013, 16:01
Many people aim to plant out their leeks to follow their early potatoes at around the end of June (and most of them won't be able to do that this year because the spuds are so late!!)

So yes, they don't need to be planted yet and could do with being a bit bigger (if they seem to be a bit "stuck" at the moment give them a liquid feed to buck them up a bit.)
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: Totty on May 25, 2013, 16:24
First sowings are planted out and looking....big, second sowing will be ready in a few weeks.
I think DD started a trend for growing them in deep cat litter trays which is an excellent idea. I still sow mine in modules though as I have lots of them.  They always seem to come to a standstill after a while though and it is then that I transplant them deeply into 10 inch pots, they really flay then and thicken up in no time. Leeks seem to appreciate a bit of transplanting and works well for me.

Totty

Ps, not one per 10 inch pot, about twenty or thirty. :tongue2:
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: seaside on May 25, 2013, 17:34
I agree there Totty. Unlike parsnips, some plants positively like being kicked out of bed and told to grow up. Leeks seem to  thrive on being moved about.
And yes, deep seed trays would seem the way to grow leek seedlings economically and without fuss. One hundred to a tray no problem. If only all plants were that simple.
Title: Re: Leek seedlings like grass...
Post by: Rosehip on May 25, 2013, 23:28
Hope picture come up.Started sowing leeks DD's way last two years,here's this years leeks. not sure why picture upside down.Must be still crossing Irish Sea.When i click on picture its the right way up.Thanks DD deep tray works great.