[Hodgey]

Hi all,

i've just got a propogator and am looking to sow some leek and chilli seeds fairly soon. The distance between seed and roof of the propogator box is only about 7cm. How quickly do you think that the seeds will take to reach the roof? I don't want to put them out too early and watch them struggle in the cold north wind, that would break my heart!!

I was thinking i could build a kind of cold frame to go into my greenhouse to move them into to keep them warm till March, would that work?

Any advice would be super.

[Aidy]

My leeks are about to go in, chilli mid-end of feb, leeks will germinate then I will get them used to the cold by popping in the mini greenhouse by day and bringing them in at night, then they will go to the greenhouse. The risk is not getting enough light and they grow week at this time of the year.
Oh and once germinated take out the propagator

[Celtic Eagle]

Aidy

What variety of leeks do you grow? I've got Musselburgh in but they seem rather small but like I said in another post they were a bit late transplanted.

Just another idea any milage in growing as multisown for full size leeks or is that best for baby ones

[Celtic Eagle]

Hodgey

Try to get a higher top for the propagator or stick small canes in each corner carefully surround the propagator and canes with polythene then pop a loose lid of polythene on top to give a bit more height

The same idea using 12mm dowels made into a box frame and covered with polythene as a mini g/h might help

[paintedlady]

I always thought the plastic lid of a propagator was just to keep the warmth and moisture in during germination (a bit like the newspaper and sheet of glass) and not meant to be a "mini" greenhouse? :?

I just have the cheapo moulded plastic ones that fit over the green trays.  When all the seedlings appear I remove it to avoid dampening off.  They either get moved into the (unheated) greenhouse or on the windowsill until more appropriate weather arrives to harden them off.

[gobs]

I always thought the plastic lid of a propagator was just to keep the warmth and moisture in during germination (a bit like the newspaper and sheet of glass) and not meant to be a "mini" greenhouse? :?

I just have the cheapo moulded plastic ones that fit over the green trays.  When all the seedlings appear I remove it to avoid dampening off.  They either get moved into the (unheated) greenhouse or on the windowsill until more appropriate weather arrives to harden them off.

Hear, hear.

In fact mine got used once.  :roll:

Reading Medwyn's article mentioning this before I bought them, would havee saved me some money.  

[DD.]

I'm in with Aidy, gobs & paintedlady.

As soon as the seedlings appear, get the top off. Leaving it on will only lead to tears. (And straggly seedlings).

[Aidy]

Aidy

What variety of leeks do you grow? I've got Musselburgh in but they seem rather small but like I said in another post they were a bit late transplanted.

Just another idea any milage in growing as multisown for full size leeks or is that best for baby ones

The first lot is Leek 'Autumn Mammoth 2 - Snowstar' thios is my Jan sowing lot, then in march I will sow the remainder of the Mussleborough. I prefer the Autumn Mammoth to be honest.

[Aidy]

Aidy

What variety of leeks do you grow? I've got Musselburgh in but they seem rather small but like I said in another post they were a bit late transplanted.

Just another idea any milage in growing as multisown for full size leeks or is that best for baby ones

The first lot is Leek 'Autumn Mammoth 2 - Snowstar' thios is my Jan sowing lot, then in march I will sow the remainder of the Mussleborough. I prefer the Autumn Mammoth to be honest.

you can tell its friday and i want to go home.

[sparky]

What variety of leeks do you grow? I've got Musselburgh in but they seem rather small but like I said in another post they were a bit late transplanted.

Same here, just hoping that come spring they start to catch up :cry:

[DD.]

What variety of leeks do you grow? I've got Musselburgh in but they seem rather small but like I said in another post they were a bit late transplanted.

Same here, just hoping that come spring they start to catch up :cry:

Come spring they'll start to flower!

[Rob the rake]

Good advice already given re. plastic lids, whip them off as soon as the seedlings appear and transfer to a cold greenhouse for growing on. If frost is forecast, just drape a bit of fleece over them for the night.

I usually sow leeks at the beginning of March, which is early enough for a good crop. However, I have just sown an earlier variety than my usual Musselburgh (Jaune de Poitou) since my OH loves leeks and would like them a bit earlier this year. Any thoughts on just how much earlier I can expect them? I was thinking that they might be ready come August, and a second sowing at the usual time should give a crop from November to follow on. I have a Winter-hardy variety to follow these which should extend cropping into March/April.

Will this work, or should I have sown a genuine Summer leek for the early crop?

[gobs]

Might get away with it Rob, but be prepared for bolting. Early/summer leek would be less prone to that(if at all) and if sown yesterday, you (well, you are up a bit north) should be able to crop it from mid-summer onwards.

[Rob the rake]

Thanks, Gobs. Worth a try, I think.