[shaun]

because when you plonk them in your hole the roots dont get all pushed up around the stem,makes sense to me

[digital_biscuit]

Hey, as far as cutting roots go i can shed some light on this! In most plants if you cut the roots then this can allow the introduction of nutrients in the roots at a greater rate than that they would normally. I wont bore you with the science on this!! So, cutting the roots may help with increasing nutrients to cope with the move?? As far as cutting the leaves, i dont see how this would help, surely it would hinder as less photosynthesis?!?!? As long as you keep the leek in the dark, they will be white! Try toilet or kitchen rolls??

[shaun]

and another tip is when you transplant them,put them in the hole and look at the way the leaves grow,they all come out of 2 sides left and right,so plant em so they flag down the row this way you wont damage them as you walk past em,its hard to explain but you know what i'm thinking

[muntjac]

you been reading my posts agin oh short hairy one?

[shaun]

errm nope old norman from the plot over from me told me that a few years ago  

[new_2_veg]

my great grandfarther trims the roots and tops when he re-plants, last year he won a show with one of his leeks (not bad for someone rear 100)

he gave me 12 leeks about 3 weeks agp with the roots and tops cut, i planted them in a hole and just watered them in lewaving about 2" out the ground.

now theres is a good 13" or so on most of them so it cant do any halm as they have long overtaken the others i planted ages ago

nathan

[WG.]

Back on track here ... the original question was not about transplanting leeks but was whether or not to mutilate semi-mature leek plants to increase size of white portion.  

[Annie]

I am too lazy to do any trimming,however the rabbit has trimmed one bed of leeks for me before I got the netting on!

[corndolly]

We had the same problem last year Annie, but the leeks recovered ,this year we've put fencing around the plot .

As for trimming when the leeks are growing in situ , I've never heard of doing that, might try the loo roll on some of them but wont it disintegrate during the winter .

[Trillium]

I give my young onion seedlings  a haircut before planting and it really helps them, but I never trim back leeks as they need all their hair to grow properly. They're the same family but not quite the same re growth.

[tali]

my Leeks are growing fast but i've noticed on the tops it looks like there growing bulbs now i've either got alien leeks or something needs doing i wondered if they were going to seed there is only a few like it all quite small one compared tot he rest!!!!! can anyone advise me as what to do please

[shaun]

there going to seed tali ,when did you plant em ?
you can still eat the bottom bit but dont leave em to long though.

[tali]

i planted them a bit early being an eager first timer thanks for confirming what i thought i'll get them up asap!!!!

[shaun]

you could try and save a couple for the seed.i think they look ace when they get there seed heads onions aswel.

[tali]

ok tell me what to do?? how do i save them already saves some of my peas that have dies off for next year and i drying out some runner bean seeds!!!!