Last year's leeks

Zippy · « **on:** March 25, 2008, 11:37 »

Hi. I have a number of last year's leeks that didn't quite make the size I would have liked. They are about 1/2 inch thick and a foot tall. Otherwise they appear to be quite healthy plants.

Can I leave them in the ground, maybe sink them into deeper holes to blanch until summer this year, or will they just bolt.

If the flower spike appears can I remove this and get the plants to produce more bulb/leaves?

Aidy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2008, 12:01 »

you can try or do as I do and make leek and taty soup with them.

compostqueen · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2008, 12:54 »

Mine are still in cos too cold to go and fetch em (nesh I am) but mine will be turned into leek and tater soup with the stored Desirees I've still got in the outhouse

Think by now they'd best be eaten, leaving room for a fresh crop of something else

Earl Grey · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2008, 06:48 »

I had the same problem , I dug all mine up as I needed the space, but I'm also wondering if I could of moved them. Found this tip you might find interesting;

"Don't throw out leek roots -- replant them. In just 60 to 90 days, you'll harvest a second bunch of long, thick stalks just as tasty and tender as the first ones. You can even use roots of leeks bought at the grocery store, giving you, in effect, two leeks for the price of one."
(http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/monthlytips/february/notefebv.html)

I've not tried this yet myself but I am going to give it a go.

compostqueen · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2008, 09:26 »

yeah I saw that on telly, heeling them in where you have a spare corner of the plot or garden

Trillium · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2008, 18:55 »

The root cuttings will give you a 2nd cropping, but the whole plant will just go to seed this year if left. It's inevitable - leeks seed biennially as do most plants. Harvest them while they're still nice.

Zippy · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2008, 09:02 »

I cut an inch above the root ends and planted them about an inch deep.

The rest will go into soup this weekend with some root veggies.

Will let you know what happens to the root cuttings.

gobs · « **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2008, 10:34 »

Quote from: "Earl Grey"

I had the same problem , I dug all mine up as I needed the space, but I'm also wondering if I could of moved them. Found this tip you might find interesting;

"Don't throw out leek roots -- replant them. In just 60 to 90 days, you'll harvest a second bunch of long, thick stalks just as tasty and tender as the first ones. You can even use roots of leeks bought at the grocery store, giving you, in effect, two leeks for the price of one."
(http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/monthlytips/february/notefebv.html)

I've not tried this yet myself but I am going to give it a go.

It's not necessary to replant though, they just bulk up in spring, like winter onions.

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Last year's leeks

Zippy

Trillium

Zippy