[Robin Redbreast]

what does heeling in mean at the risk of sounding a bit dumb? :shock:  :shock:

[Steve.P]

Its when you plant a tree for example, and instead of leaving the soil loose around the plant, you pack it down with the heel of your boot. They say cabbages should be planted like this.

[Pete C]

I think this may be what you're asking about :?: and no, not a dumb question al all

[Clampit]

Or this perhaps. http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/jamie-oliver/jamie-at-home/series-2/episode-2-leeks_p_5.html
 

[Trillium]

What both articles neglect to mention is that heeling in is done for a very important reason - to eliminate all air pockets. In summer it's not a serious problem, but in winter, any trapped air can and will freeze roots and kill plants such as pereniials and trees. In dry weather, the roots have no touch with soil to draw moisture if air pockets exist and the plant will die of drought. By firming in the soil (heeling in) around the roots, the plant is off to a quick start with moisture and nutrient contact.

[Salmo]

Is this really about planting things firmly?

To my mind heeling in is when you give plants a temporary home until you can plant them out. e.g if you take delivery of raspberry canes but the weather is not suitable for planting you can dig a shallow hole and put them in temporarily covered up with soil until conditions improve. This might equally apply to brassica plants.

 You can also heel in parsnips and other root crops to store them temporarily if you need to move them out of their bed to make way for something else to be planted.

[Kagganz]

I thought it was what salmo said.  But then I've read sooooo much this last few weeks about veg growing that I could have got muddled up  :roll: .

[DD.]

Yup - I agree with Salmo. It's simply somewhere to pop things in temporarily rather than leaving them in the open.

[purron]

Have to agree with Salmo.

It was on Gardeners World on Friday when they temporarily put raspberries in the ground until they found a suitable permanent place to plant them

[Trillium]

It's an ambiguous term which applies to both things - temporary replanting as well as firming in the soil.