[kentishlad]

Hi all,
Anyone here have a crop they put in the ground after lifting their first earlies?
I have the book by John Seymour and he suggests putting Leeks in after them, it sounds good to me though it sort of breaks the way the crop rotation works but I guess as long as the leeks move each year with the spuds then this would be ok?

I read elsewhere about first earlies being ready after flowering, if this is the case mine are flowering now (Aran pilot planted about 1st April) and my Leeks (autumn giant 3 and Musselburgh planted under glass 2nd Feb in trays and now 2" apart in trays)  are about 5 -6 " high. Now, I read in one book transplant when 8" high and pencil thick and on the seed packet, transplant at 5" tall, my gut feeling is to leave the first earlies in till around the end of June (to get a reasonable crop) then put the Leeks in, maybe manure the ground first, what do you think?

Thanks in advance,

Wayne.

[DD.]

This is precisely what my grandfather used to do & he was a gardener by profession. (I don't as I've got a lot of ground!!!)

[loubylou29]

Do you know I have been wondering about this, My leeks were started in a tub, outside and look very happy, they are  maybe 5/6" tall, but still quite thin looking, about as thick as a biro middle (IYSWIM) so I haven't moved them as I am waiting for the pencil thick part!

So around what time do you usually transplant them? or would I do well to re sow direct into the ground? (is it too late?)


Thanks

[DD.]

Do you know I have been wondering about this, My leeks were started in a tub, outside and look very happy, they are  maybe 5/6" tall, but still quite thin looking, about as thick as a biro middle (IYSWIM) so I haven't moved them as I am waiting for the pencil thick part!

So around what time do you usually transplant them? or would I do well to re sow direct into the ground? (is it too late?)


Thanks

That's about like mine are, so don't worry. Leave them 2 or 3 weeks, they'll thicken up a bit. Don't worry if they don't make pencil thickness, they'll soon go once in their own holes!

[kentishlad]

This is precisely what my grandfather used to do & he was a gardener by profession. (I don't as I've got a lot of ground!!!)

Well that's good enough for me!
I've taken a fairly large chunk of the garden and it's about big enough for the two of us though I could always use a few more square yards  

That's about like mine are, so don't worry. Leave them 2 or 3 weeks, they'll thicken up a bit. Don't worry if they don't make pencil thickness, they'll soon go once in their own holes!

ok that's sound, thanks for the info.

Wayne

[WG.]

Most folks would grow many more spuds than they need leeks.  Any extra space can be filled with lettuce, beetroot, coriander, etc.   After that (Sept/Oct/Nov) you can plant garlic

[Aidy]

my leeks dont go in after spuds, no reason they just live in their own bed, however I do plant winter bunching lisbon spring onions to be picked during winter, i sow 6 to a 3inch pot and then just transplant, the idea of course is I have bunches of 6 ready for home.

[Sam K.]

I plan on transplanting all of my winter basics into the beds once the early are out. Though the leeks have a bed earmarked for them that presently has a cover crop on. Hadn’t thought about putting pots in before planting the leeks I'll keep that in mind for next year. Thanks

[DadBear]

I dont think it would do any harm to leave your earlies a wee bit longer. Mine a re flowering now too, but I dont think i'll go near them for a couple of weks at least. Implan to put leeks in after the earlies, first time I've tried leeks, so will see how it goes ! If you look down the forum a few pages ther is a thread titles 'early potatoes' in it there is a picture of my arran pilots which i think have grown really well... see what you think ! regards, DB