[Aled]

Hello All
I've got two rows of leeks in the veg patch, and they are growing slow but steady. Is there anything i can add to help them along? Liquid fertilisier for example? They have enough water.
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks
Aled

[JayG]

Leeks don't grow much in the depths of winter but I suppose we're not quite there yet (hopefully!) 

If you think they may be undernourished you could give them a liquid feed - try tomato feed because most of the commercial general purpose liquid feeds are rather high in nitrogen which would promote soft growth which won't stand up to the cold very well.

[mumofstig]

tomato feed may encourage them make flower heads/seeds, though 

[NickoV]

I just make sure they are well weeded and let nature do the rest!
Mine are small too, about the size of a fat middle finger. I picked my first ones today.
We harvest throughout the winter and into the spring pulling the biggest. The growth slows right down towards the solstice and then speed up again to give a lovely late winter early spring crop, which is when we eat most of ours.
Does depend on variety though. Apparently there are early ones which are full size by now, but I have never grown them. Might try next year.

[JayG]

I've only grown Musselburgh so far, which is not what you'd call wildly experimental!

After making sure they are well fed and watered during the summer I must admit I just leave them to it - I don't expect them to fatten up significantly at this time of year, and I'm not going to keep going out there with a tape measure to find out whether that's actually true! 

Come the spring, the few remaining are usually looking a bit sorry for themselves, although that's partly because I've scoffed all the best ones first. 

[NickoV]

we grow Colossal which I just checked is a late season leek.

[Aled]

Thanks, for taking the time to reply, i have some tomato feed left over so will give a small amount this weekend then leave them too it!
Cheers
Aled

[Aled]

And it has made a difference feel like i'm in with a chance of eating some soon!
Cheers
Aled

[AnneB]

I have the same pattern as Nickov but with Bleu de Solaise, also a late leek. 

[Madame Cholet]

I have the same pattern as Nickov but with Bleu de Solaise, also a late leek.

Me too

[Totty]

I mulch them really deeply with smashed leaves in late autumn, it helps blanch the stems and I'm hoping it insulates the soil, and generates a little warmth to keep the roots cosy. No plants will grow much when the roots are frozen.

Totty

[Aled]

OK guys and gals a question: I read somewhere that lager beer was a good fertiliser for leekes. Is there any truth in this or is it an old wives tale?
Many thanks in anticipation of your reply.
Cheers (pun intended)
Aled

[mumofstig]

I've never heard of that one!
Some people feed their pumpkins with lager, but I'd rather drink it myself 

[ididntdoit]

I read somewhere that lager beer was a good fertiliser for leekes. Is there any truth in this or is it an old wives tale?

If they are an Irish variety they will probably prefer Guinness.

[Growster...]

A few years ago, there was a prog on BBC (which else), where they covered a leek growing contest.

One of the contestants used to make up a liquid feed of the normal feed stuff, and then added a bottle of Newcastle brown Ale to the barrel.

Whether he was a winner, I never discovered, as I'd fainted at the thought of someone pouring a bottle of lovely beer into a barrel of yuccccch...