[Cheshire Phill]

Hi all - didn't mange leeks this year, my first, but deffo want to go with some next year.
Have just read all of the "Dibbing" thread, so am happy with that bit.

What types do people recommend, sown in what, and when?

Advice welcomed, as I must make sure this year I have crops growing early in the year ready to plant out when space becomes available - one of my big failings this year, too taken up with "the moment" and not enough forward planning.

I have a cold greenhouse, so can sow in trays etc. whenever

Thanks!!

Phill

[mumofstig]

Have alook
here

I think it will help

[Cheshire Phill]

MOS - brill thanks, that didn't come up in my previous search - prob on the wrong forums when I looked...very helpful!1

Phill

[Sweet Pea 2]

So to summarise.  Plant in cat litter trays, with holes in the bottom made by hot skewers..  Sow seeds individually but fairly close together.  You start them indoors on a windowsill???  I am not sure about this bit.    Then move them to a cold frame.  When they are about pencil thick you plant them outdoors.  So what are the timings for: sowing seeds, moving to coldframe and planting outdoors.  Please note I don't have a greenhouse.

Thanks in anticipation of response. I am really hoping to make a success of Leeks next year, failed miserably this year. Also I have plenty of seeds left, are germination rates OK for year old seeds, or should I get new ones.

[mumofstig]

I sow mine at the end of March/early April, see this sowing/harvest chart
http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/general/sowing-harvest-vegetable-chart.php

I usually transplant mine into the bed where I've just lifted the early potatoes, so probably about the end of June.

I'd start them in your cold frame, then when they are straight and look fairly strong I'd put them outside to fend for themselves, until transplanting time

[Kristen]

"Plant in cat litter trays,"

I remember that post now, and I remember thinking that a cat litter tray is a bit shallow - but maybe its just that I never get to do anything on time, and when I should, and a deeper container gives me more lea-way!

I sow my leeks in about an 8" pot.  They don't need the depth of a normal 8" pot, for sure, but I like to have a decent area so they are not too crowded.

I generally use a pot & compost that has previous grown carrots

[Hey Jude]

Hi Phill, this year's been my first for growing and I planted the variety Musselburgh and they're fab - no problems and they taste wonderful.

[DD.]

A cheap cat litter tray from wilcos is about twice as deep as a standard seed tray.

[jazzbyrd]

I bought my cat litter trays  from the pound shop ! Oh and this year I used DD's method of growing leeks and it works a treat ! I am going to grow my radishes the DD way next year. Right now I have mixed tuscan lettuce mix growing in cat litter trays in the greenhouse!

Thanks DD you are a hero !!

Jazz

[mumofstig]

Yup rocket and lettuce in mine at the moment, might as well get more out of the compost before it gets added to the raised beds

[DD.]

Thanks DD you are a hero !!

Jazz

I do miss that embarrased smiley!

[mumofstig]

this one's not quite the same  it says blush but doesn't 
This one good enough ?   

[janette]

hi cheshire phill  I grow bulgarian giant from dobies the white bit grows tall out of the ground