[AlaninCarlisle]

For the first time ever with me in growing leek for at least twenty years, the entire crop of 100 plants are setting seed. They were as usual sown in March and set out in early May in well-manured soil and kept well watered. I'm assuming that the 7 week heatwave has caused this.

I've removed all the seed-heads as they appeared but am wondering if I should just cut my losses and harvest this month and next and then freeze or just leave them and use them as normal over autumn and winter. Will they be edible or just too woody?

[mumofstig]

Bad luck! I'd harvest them now and freeze, perhaps put something else in their place?

[JayG]

The flower head is carried on a long stalk which runs straight down the middle of the leek - if you catch them early enough I've found them to still be edible, but most likely you'll need to split each one vertically and pull out the stalk before freezing. Bad luck - I don't suppose you'll be the last this year...

[Growster...]

Early leeks are often a problem.

As said above, hoik out and freeze if you can bear it.

It's a rotten year for gardeners - I feel your pain!

[jaydig]

I agree with what everyone else says.  The longer you leave them, the bulkier the flower stalk inside the leek will get, so it's worth pulling them now, prepping them and freezing.  I do this with any of mine that bolt, and also the surplus crop.  They're fine from the freezer for casseroles, leeks in cheese sauce,stir fries or leek and potato soup, and when you need to use them it saves so much time when they're all ready to go.