[fletch]

I don't know why I didn't check but I didn't and I've just realised I haven't planted my leeks in the "traditional" way. I.e. I didn't dib a hole and drop them in, I planted them as you would any other plant.

Will they still be ok?

[p00rstudent]

i have done the exact same thing, but they have produced some nice stems so i am not too worried, i think dibbing is just when you move them from a seedbed or greenhouse to their final postion, but i see no problem with planting them in there finial postion like we have done, but then i am new to this growing stuff lark so i wouldnt take that as gosspel.

[siztenboots]

Grew mine above ground, as I was a beginner last year and whilst maybe the stem could have been forced and a little longer, the leeks I did get were fine.

This year I have tried both, sown direct , and later transplanted some up to their necks in holes to see.

musselbrough and giant

[compostqueen]

they'll be fine I'm sure. Plants are programmed to grow  

[DD.]

Dropping them into a dibbed hole makes them longer & whiter & so give you more useable leek.

You'll get some, but not as much. Try 'earthing' up the stem to blanch them & force them.

[lincspoacher]

I planted mine in a finger made hole, at the bottom of a trench a spade deep. There now about 9 inches high, at what point shall I start shovelling the earth back in the trench the whiten the stems?

[mikem]

Whilst you could try earthing them up why not, if you have any spare, put the insides cardboard of loo rolls or kitchen rolls over them and grow them through as this will blanch them as well as giving them room to grow.  I did that last year and they were great - the leeks that is!

[lincspoacher]

put the tubes over as is? or fill them with soil as well ?

[jannie]

Whilst you could try earthing them up why not, if you have any spare, put the insides cardboard of loo rolls or kitchen rolls over them and grow them through as this will blanch them as well as giving them room to grow.  I did that last year and they were great - the leeks that is!

hi both,
problem with that my leeks i grew where fatter than the width of a loo roll

[mikem]

put the tubes over as is? or fill them with soil as well ?

I put them over the leeks, pushed the rolls just into the soil to keep them upright but I didn't put any soil into them.  Some of my leeks filled the tubes but that was fine by me!  There was a good length of white stem when I harvested them

[gobs]

Don't any of you get worried, if you, like me eat the greens, too, then it's all a bit of academical interest.

Much better for you, too.

[SalJ1980]

I eat the greens too!  

[fletch]

Thanks guys, I like the toilet roll idea as I have loads of spare ones. Also, I dont mind the green bit either so at least they won't go to waste  

[corndolly]

I like the idea of the cardboard tubes but dont they rot over winter? With all the rain we are getting I think we'd end up with papier mache .

[mikem]

I like the idea of the cardboard tubes but dont they rot over winter? With all the rain we are getting I think we'd end up with papier mache .

A few of them came "undone" rather than rotted, but most were OK after I harvested the leeks I put the cardboard on the compost heap to rot down.  I eat the green bit as well but I do like lots of the white as well!  My only problem is getting enough of the tubes but I save them all year and also get my kids to save them - it does take a bit of explaining to their friends!