[bowler]

hi have set some leeks not looking very healthy,have been told by a fellow gardener to chop them off 25 mm from ground and they will recover any advice would be welcome

[RichardA]

never ever heard that one -- can't see how that would work so with my limited knowldge I can only say I would not do it. Interested to see what others think though - there is a wealth of experience out there.
R

[DD.]

You must have missed this thread then, Richard. 

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=65249.0

[mumofstig]

Do they have caterpillars or are they just looking a bit sorry for themselves, is the question....I think

[RichardA]

Thanks DD - cutting off affected foliage is one thing -- I can see how leeks might recover from that especailly if only a small proportion of leaves affected but bowler describes advice given to cut off the leeks an inch above the ground - I can't see how that would lead to anything but a stagnant leek or one that gets dirty and rots.
I admit I have never had the problem so dont know.
R

[DD.]

This is from a quarterly RHS bulletin:

If all else fails and your crop has been badly infected you can always cut the foliage off your leeks and they will re-grow, albeit somewhat smaller.

[binner]

i can see how that could work, its only rearly the white part under the soil we eat