[Robert_S]

I have done a search on this (honest!) and I think I know the answer, but just to double check...

I planted some leek seed in March in the garden, and they are now quite tall (12" maybe) and very skinny, and also very close together.

Is it ok to dig them all up and transplant them down the allotment, or will I just have to thin them in situ?

Also if transplanting, how big (wide) a hole should I make for them?

[JayG]

I have done a search on this (honest!) and I think I know the answer, but just to double check...

I planted some leek seed in March in the garden, and they are now quite tall (12" maybe) and very skinny, and also very close together.

Is it ok to dig them all up and transplant them down the allotment, or will I just have to thin them in situ?

Also if transplanting, how big (wide) a hole should I make for them?

The traditional way is to drop the individual leeks into dibbed holes about 8" deep, water in and let the holes fill in naturally (this gives the blanched white stem.)

An alternative (useful if you run out of space!) is to plant them closer together in a 8" deep trench, again leaving it to fill in naturally. This will give smaller leeks but probably more overall for the space taken up.

[Robert_S]

Thanks JayG, will try the dibbing as not short of space, fingers crossed!

[willowish]

leeks can be moved around many times before being put into their final position....they never seem to mind 

[Plottered]

John will tell you how.... here

http://www.allotment-garden.org/allotment-tips/planting-leeks.php

[Robert_S]

Blimey that looked quite brutal, but I will tackle the task with new-found confidence now 

[Plottered]

Blimey that looked quite brutal, but I will tackle the task with new-found confidence now 

yes i thought the same Robert and when i was ripping away at the roots i thought "these leeks are doomed" but they are starting to slowly gain a bit of thickness about them now and looking quite healthy...potato n leek soup here we come 

[NavyD]

I have done a search on this (honest!) and I think I know the answer, but just to double check...

I planted some leek seed in March in the garden, and they are now quite tall (12" maybe) and very skinny, and also very close together.

Is it ok to dig them all up and transplant them down the allotment, or will I just have to thin them in situ?

Also if transplanting, how big (wide) a hole should I make for them?

I was always told to TRIM both roots and shoots before planting in dibbed holes. Trim roots to abt 1.5 ins. and shoots to about 10 ins. This leaves enough to show where they are and they soon take off again
NavyD

[whiskywill]

Trim shoots to about 10 ins.

10"? They must be gigantic seedlings.

[NavyD]

Trim shoots to about 10 ins.

10"? They must be gigantic seedlings.

well they should be as thick as a pencil and if going into 8" deep holes you need to see where they are

NavyD

[Paul Plots]

Every year I trim (top and tail) leeks before planting out but there are many who say there's no advantage.

I've done this because my father always did. It makes them easier to handle, less to catch in the wind and an easier root length/size to drop into a dibbed hole.

This year I've plonked them straight into slightly wider holes (so the lot drops in) and I've left the tops un-trimmed.

So far both methods seem to work equally well.   

[Robert_S]

It's done...had to plant them a bit closer together than would have been ideal (used up all my spare beds yesterday sowing a load of seeds), but I will thin them out as they get bigger, as there are plenty to spare.

I went for the natural untrimmed approach on the basis that it was less work.

Really looking forward to some roasted home grown leeks now...hurry up you skinny ****ders!