[al78]

I have tried growing a variety of leek (giant Bulgarian leek from the Real Seeds catalogue http://www.realseeds.co.uk/leeks.html) which is for autumn harvesting (they are less cold hardy than the ones you leave over winter). They have recently started throwing up flower stalks. I had a look online to find out what causes leeks to bolt and it said something about cold temperatures, which has not been the case in SE England and certainly not last month. Could the very dry August combined with some hot temperatures have stimulated this? When they were seedlings I don't recall exposing them to freezing temperatures in late winter/early Spring. I've never had this happen with leeks before. Any suggestions as to minimize the chance of this happening again?

[Growster...]

This is an interesting post AL.

A few years ago, we sowed something similar, and at the same time as you, and they shot away, eventually to become unusable by early December. I'd blame the hot August we've just had (here anyway), and perhaps too little water at the roots, assuming they're a few inches down below the soil surface.

We found that a winter leek, sowed around March was a better option, as long as you have the space for 200 or so. That way, you can take smaller ones in the autumn, and wait a while for the fatter ones over winter.

It's been a funny year for leeks. I couldn't get the seeds even to germinate, and had to go for three packets to get enough plants!

[AnneB]

Never tried the Giant Bulgarian variety.   This year I went for a Heritage Seed Library offering called Walton Mammoth.   Unlike my usual varieties (Bleu de Solaise and Jaune de Poitou) these developed to pencil thickness for planting out quite early, whereas normally I bemoan grass like stems for weeks before they eventually come good.

However after planting out they seem to have stalled a bit and are no longer very Mammoth like despite a comfrey tea feed a couple of weeks ago.  They look healthy enough though, no bolting, fingers crossed.  I have added some chicken manure pellets and together with the copious rain this weekend I am hoping they will put a spurt on. 

[al78]

Thanks for the info, I'll try sowing them in March instead of February next year and see if that helps.

It is possible I left them overcrowded in the seed trays too long before planting out and this may have stressed them. I was trying to grow rather too much earlier this year and I fell behind trying to get things out on the plot, so some things spent longer in their pots or trays than I would have liked.

I'll try and feed them more next year, I read that leeks are hungry crops and I didn't put much fertaliser down before planting out, just the usual blood fish and bone meal spread over the bed prior to planting out. I am also considering chopping down the comfrey every so often and using it as a mulch, which hopefully will add nutrients to the soil (I don't feel I am making best use of this at the moment).

[mumofstig]

It is possible I left them overcrowded in the seed trays too long before planting out and this may have stressed them. I was trying to grow rather too much earlier this year and I fell behind trying to get things out on the plot, so some things spent longer in their pots or trays than I would have liked.

I did the same thing with my leeks and they don't look that happy - have to see what happens!

[Yorkie]

Plants bolt when they are stressed, in a last ditch attempt to propagate before dying off.

Yes, you're right that periods of heat and/or drought can stress plants as well as periods of cold or, as others have said, overcrowding.

[Growster...]

Plants bolt when they are stressed, in a last ditch attempt to propagate before dying off.

Yes, you're right that periods of heat and/or drought can stress plants as well as periods of cold or, as others have said, overcrowding.

I know the feeling, Yorkie...:0)

[AlaninCarlisle]

I've got three varieties of leek and they have all bolted. Must have been the June heatwave. I'm just snapping off the flower heads as they form and leaving them

[Growster...]

I've got three varieties of leek and they have all bolted. Must have been the June heatwave. I'm just snapping off the flower heads as they form and leaving them

Alan, Mrs Growster just hoiks out the solid stem section, and uses the normal bits for soup etc.

I can't tell the difference anyway...

Someone said here once, that the bolting seed heads are great stir-fried! Must try that!

[AlaninCarlisle]

My wife just cooks them, centre stem and all. Just had some tonight. Delicious

[al78]

I've got three varieties of leek and they have all bolted. Must have been the June heatwave. I'm just snapping off the flower heads as they form and leaving them

June heatwave? That just shows how weather conditions can vary widely over a small country. June in the south east was horribly dull and wet, with mediocre daytime temperatures, like early December with more daylight.

[Salmo]

Mine were not planted out until early July and they are bolting. I suppose I should have watered them more than just at planting.

[SusieB]

You could try this:

........so most, if not all, leeks that you see on the show benches have been propagated from bulbils or pips. These are actually miniature little leeks that grow from the leek seed head and are effectively a form of cutting from the mother plant. This means that not only are you able to start off with a relatively strong plant, the end product will very uniform as well.

Above is the best description I could find with a quick google.  I saw it on TV can't remember what programme.  Effectively the seedhead sprouted lots of little leek seedlings which you pot on.  Gives a very early start I think.  I'm going to google a bit more, timing might mean you need leeks growing in the greenhouse.