[Goosegirl]

Have not tried this before, but want to get a longer blanched stem. When planting, I use a dibber and make the hole 6" deep and leave it to fill in over time. At what stage do I put their collars on? I will be using saved the cardboard tubes from Crimbo paper, and loo rolls.

[TerryB]

When the leeks are big enough to leave about 125mm /5in of leaf above the collar.
I use 225mm/9in collars, push them a couple in's into the ground then pull some earth up around them.
This so they don't get blow over by the wind.

[Goosegirl]

Excellent - thanks! 

[lochnesslass]

sorry to hi-jack, but i've not put my leeks in yet they are still in the tray, shoud they be in now?
ive not grown them before.

[GrannieAnnie]

They really should be in by now, but my 2nd sowing of leeks still look like matchsticks, so a bit small yet.  Some people wait until all their early spuds are up before putting their leeks in that space, so I'm still hopeful mine will grow okay, even if they are a bit smaller than I'd like!

[AnneB]

Mine aren't in yet.  As Grannie says, I am waiting for the early spuds to  come out and make room, but they are behind this year.  I am not worried though, as I am growing Bleu de Solaise, which is quite a late variety.

[webby139]

Hi all,

Just read this thread about collars and was really wondering what and why ?

I have around 50 leeks currently growing in a raised bed. They are pretty much all the same size, standing around 12 inches tall above the ground and about 1/2 an inch wide. I dibbed them in about 6 inches as recommeded, and let the soil fall into the holes.

Should i put 9 inch loo rolls in place now ??
What advantage does it give you ??

Thanks,
Keith.

[AnneB]

Hi all,

Just read this thread about collars and was really wondering what and why ?

I have around 50 leeks currently growing in a raised bed. They are pretty much all the same size, standing around 12 inches tall above the ground and about 1/2 an inch wide. I dibbed them in about 6 inches as recommeded, and let the soil fall into the holes.

Should i put 9 inch loo rolls in place now ??
What advantage does it give you ??
Thanks,
Keith.

As the original poster suggested, the idea is to blanch or whiten more of the leeks. Personally I think it is a bit of a faff, and I am happy enough with planting in a dibbed hole around 6" deep and that seems to give a sufficient level of white leek at the bottom for me.  If you are growing to exhibit them instead of eating it might be different.

[Salmo]

If you were growing for exhibition you would not dib them in the ground at all. Show people grow them above ground to avoid dirt getting between the leaves and use tubes to draw them up and blanch them. They also like to stroke them every day.

[Goosegirl]

Personally, I do not mind if I have more green than white stem - it's just my OH who cooks them who likes the white part best.

[gavinjconway]

The whole leek is edible and i'm just letting them do their own thin as my FIL has done for 35 years!!

[AlaninCarlisle]

I have a couple of hundred in as I give them away to friends and family. Can I buy collars as we don't use enough toilet tissue, happily, to collar that number?