Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: JohnB47 on June 03, 2010, 11:08
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Hi.
I have a few leek plants in paper pots. They seem to have been in there for months and even now are very small. The cause is probably a very cold start to life and now a need for some food.
So, the question is, what is all this stuff about planting them deep really about? Would it matter if I took my little leeklets and planted them out on the allotment as they are - perhaps planting them so that the tips just show? Or should I plant them out and then later dig them up when pencil sized and replant them deep? Does it really matter?
All the leeks I see nearing full size and being lifted seem to have their roots fairly near the surface anyway, so what is the point of planting them deep? (I think the intention is to produce leeks with a nice long white stem - but if they end up with their roots near the surface anyway, surely planting them deep can't be having the desired effect).
Cheers.
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John you have answered your own question, planting them deep is to produce leeks with a nice long white stem. I have never seen the roots near the surface, when you dig up the leeks the roots are deep in the ground. Just dibber a 7" hole ond pop them in as they are (now is the time to do it) then water the hole and leave them to grow.
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As stated above dibber a deep hole drop the leek in and water one side of the hole just to wash enough soil in to cover the roots but not fill the hole completely.
If you water into the centre of the hole you may float the leek back out.
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Thanks both. Yes, I guess I'll have to get them in the ground, regardless of size. They're not doing much in those pots anyway.
Stevens706 - 7" deep would see them totally buried! Still, if they're just lying in the hole maybe they'll grow above soil level before the hole becomes filled in. Perhaps I'll make that a 5 or 6" hole. :happy:
Cheers.
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I sowed mine in a try around 6 weeks ago and they are still thin and weedy hope to plant them out in next couple of weeks, they will not be pencil thick though more like rice noodle thick!
Mixdiver
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I sowed mine in a try around 6 weeks ago and they are still thin and weedy hope to plant them out in next couple of weeks, they will not be pencil thick though more like rice noodle thick!
Mixdiver
It's some consolation to know that it's not just me!
Cheers.
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Me too, terrible looking things :(
My very first year with my beautiful raised beds and they are the only seedlings to let me down :ohmy:
Will put them out anyway now. Was looking at them this afternoon and was going to chuck them :unsure: Must be fate that I held back and then read this!! :D
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Mine always look rubbish and then when you plant them on they are fine.
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Be positive and convince yourself that you aim to grow the baby leeks that are so expensive in the shops. :) :)
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I have heard so much about pencil thick leeks ready for planting out but have never seen what people mean! Anyone gotta picture to show what we are waiting for!?
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Pencil thick means ready for eating :)
I planted out 40 yesterday and most were drinking straw thickness. Come December they'll be as thick as my arm....hopefully.
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They're winter veg - they're not supposed to grow fast.
Pop them in the corner of a bed somewhere, water in and leave them be until the summer crops are harvested. Then put them into their final positions.
You'll be amazed the difference when you come to move them.
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i've never seen anyone get them pencil thick b4 they dibb them in, but for sure they will grow well and good too eat :D :D
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Thanks. Great to have this feedback.
I'm happy that some others are in a similar position to myself (not that I want everyone to be as badly off as me). After I plant mine out I may decide to replant deeper, as per your advice zazen999. Seems like this year is a bit odd all round. I'm only a beginner - is it this variable every year?? Perhaps something get to get used to.
Good luck all.
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Stevens706 - 7" deep would see them totally buried! Still, if they're just lying in the hole maybe they'll grow above soil level before the hole becomes filled in.
I'm probably repeating what you already know, but the idea is to "dibber" a hole, drop them in, fill hole with water - which will wash in about an inch of soil to cover the root. The rest of the hole is still "open" so the leek can grow, emerge fro the hole, and both grow and fatten up - and over time waterings will fill the hole some more.
Edit: Pictures from teh Begining and End of May. I'm not advocating this, they are pretty crowded, but that's about how I normally do it and we get half-decent leeks.
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Stevens706 - 7" deep would see them totally buried! Still, if they're just lying in the hole maybe they'll grow above soil level before the hole becomes filled in.
I'm probably repeating what you already know, but the idea is to "dibber" a hole, drop them in, fill hole with water - which will wash in about an inch of soil to cover the root. The rest of the hole is still "open" so the leek can grow, emerge fro the hole, and both grow and fatten up - and over time waterings will fill the hole some more.
So, just to check. Are you saying plant them deep now, even though they're thin and only about 3-4" tall. Or plant them out of their pots now (at same depth as in the pots) and transplant deeper in the dibbered holes when they get bigger later on (as per an earlier post on this thread)? Ta.
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I never plant my leeks out until the end of July by then they are pencil thick. I still get leeks by the end of December and throughout the spring which is when I want them.
Jazz
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John, its up to you, I planted mine on Saturday even the very small thin ones (just be careful with the watering so you don’t collapse the hole). I do the same every year and they always come through. some people wait for space to become available such as after the first early spuds etc so have to wait, both ways work.
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Can I ask a simple question please?
I know how to plant the youngs leeks (same problem as everyone else this year) but our allotment soil is very powdery and dries very quickly on the surface. It's perfectly possible to plant correctly and leave the hole 'open', but subsequent waterings will very quickly fill the hole with soil. Does this affect the growing habit of the leeks and if so what can I do to prevent it?
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Do not forget the roots are 6" down where the soil will be moister so they may not need more than an occasional dribble to keep them going.
As long as there is a bit of green showing they will be ok.
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Thanks for that Bdoubles it's been bothering me for a while.
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That's it! Done it!
My 30 biro refills have just been dropped into 21 6" holes (so some doubled-up) and watered in, and a bit of plastic netting thrown over them as an afterthought in case the blackbirds decide to investigate!
They can please themselves now! :tongue2: :tongue2: :lol:
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Mine didn't go in till the end of July (might eben have been the beginning of August ???) last year!! They were fine and grew away quite happily.
My current ones are sitting in their cat litter tray looking like little blade of fine grass ;)... they are going to stay there until they buck their ideas up!!
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This will be my third year at attempting leeks. So far they've been a disaster and each spring when I pull them up they are not much bigger than when I put them in.
I'm sure i've just been too late at getting them in the ground. They are sitting in a litter tray and will be going in when my first earlies come out but true to form, my first earlies are still tiny plants, second early and maincrop are big and bushy ??? so looks like my leeks will be late again this year.
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My best effort with leeks was the year I borrowed a patch of earth on my Mums lottie and threw some seeds in direct.
I had no idea what I was doing with them and thinned them out a little when they got a bit overcrowded cos I felt sorry for them! :blink: No dropping them in holes... No earthing up! Nothing!!
Best leeks ever!!!
Just goes to show ignorance is bliss - sometimes ;) :D
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e196/deb1928/Lotty/CIMG6987.jpg)
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Mine are nearly ready to go in the ground. Does anyone know how to stop them from being gritty when they are harvested? I heard of someone wrapping the baby leeks in newspaper before planting, what do you think?
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So, just to check. Are you saying plant them deep now, even though they're thin and only about 3-4" tall. Or plant them out of their pots now (at same depth as in the pots) and transplant deeper in the dibbered holes when they get bigger later on (as per an earlier post on this thread)? Ta.
I think 3" to 4" tall is a bit short ...
If they are really crowded, or each is in a tiny pot/cell, I think I would pot on. But if not really crowded I'll let them carry on a bit.
No rush to get them planted out as yet - although my lot like skinny-er, rather than fat-er, style leeks in the Winter.
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im ashamed to say i have only 2 leeks all the rest have died so to day ive sown some more a bit late but i hope they will catch up never had problem before just dib 6in deep hole drop them in water and forget just weed now and then lovelly leeks not this year must have been conditions lot of rain then very dry ive been growing since the year of dot never seen it before.
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Snap Dragon, I can't believe the size of that leek........ I am beginning to think that some plants really do need to be treated mean. Mine are spoiled brats :lol:
PS Your little girl is beautiful