Pathetic leeks - plant 'em anyway?

Quote from: JohnB47 on June 03, 2010, 14:30

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.

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.

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.

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!      

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.

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?

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.