[JohnB47]

Or to ask it another way, what if you just planted the darn things, nice and deep?

I read somewhere that leaving them in a dibbed hole is to 'allow them to bulk out'. Really? Like they're going to stay super thin just because of soil pressure? Are they that weak?

To my mind (and I'm probably wrong) plants have an enormous strength, exerted slowly over a long period of time. Carrots and parsnips seem to manage it, never mind spuds. Are leeks different?

[JayG]

It's my first time ever growing leeks so don't actually know much about them but I've read plenty!

Best explanation for me is that it helps prevent soil getting trapped in the leaves which results in gritty leeks which are difficult to clean properly. Seems to make sense! 

[compostqueen]

I plant in a deep hole    I make the hole good and deep so that the shank of the leek will be white as it's below soil level and won't see the light of day, so I suppose the deeper they are the whiter and longer the shank will be

I make a hole for mine with a long handled bulb planter but  a walking stick whirled around in the soil is quite good  

[Ice]

I have to agree with JayG.  The consensus of opinion seems to be that planting like this reduces the chance that the leeks will trap sand or soil when growing.

[8doubles]

I expect the main reason for dibbing leeks in is speed. A dibber is much faster than a trowel if you are putting in hundreds of leeks.
Why do it the hard way?

[Zippy]

I use a trowel to slice a trench, line the leeks up and close the trench because i have sandy soil and if I were to use a dibber I would be there all day!

I plant up to the first separation of leaves with the shank buried so I get plenty of white shank but the leaves do not collect soil as they grow.

I believe the dibber tradition came from an area of heavier soil (Midlands) and people have been slavishly following the tradition ever since whether it works or not.

[Nobbie]

For most people it's the quickest and most effective way of transplanting leeks. I did my lot last night into the space left by my early spuds. Dibber in, leek in, fill hole with water to get some soil around the roots at the bottom of the hole and job done I can imagine it being a bit of a waste of time trying to do it on a sandy soil, or very hard work on compacted soil. Leaving the leek in a hole also means that you can plant it deeper than if you filled the hole as the growing tip can be below soil level. This also gives it an incentive to lengthen the stem to reach more light. If you buried the tip the plant might give up.

As you say, the leeks would get to the same girth irrespective, as the soil can't stop the leek from expanding, just witness how weeds can split concrete apart.

[mikem]

To get more "white" bit of the leek use the inners of toilet rolls over the plant and just twist it into the soil to keep the plant upright and in the shade.  The leek will bulk out OK and there will be another few inches of "white".  If you can manage to get your hands on old terracotta drainage pipes (I did off freecycle) the these are really good.

[maxie]

I just dib them in cos it works 

[Give it a go]

I put my leeks in last week. Unfortunatley the holes have filled in

[kermit]

I put my leeks in last week. Unfortunatley the holes have filled in

Mine too.  I dont think its a problem - the soil around the young leeks cant be all that compacted.  In fact, mine filled in pretty much as I watered them (no matter how careful i was).

[Give it a go]

It does make you feel better when others share the same problems

[compostqueen]

it's not a problem that the soil falls back in. Don't worry 

[JohnB47]

Thanks everyone.

Good to hear all the opinions. Not sure about the argument that dibbing in reduces the problem of soil getting in between the leaves - seems unlikely to me. Perhaps the best argument for doing it is speed. Still, each to his/her own.

Perhaps we should dib-in spuds? Might try that on a few of mine next year for a lark.

[Yorkie]

I use my bulb planter for spud tubers and for leeks