[fletcherbaker]

Sorry to ask such a silly question but when you put the leek seedling in the hole do you then fill the hole around the seedling with compost/soil!!

[Yorkie]

Nope, leave the hole open and water into it.  Gradually the soil will fill itself back in.

[fletcherbaker]

Thanks Yorkie i know it was a stupid question but kept thinking "Now do i fill it in or not"

[rowlandwells]

there certainly is some good replies to this subject all worth reading i think we all have our own way of growing but its nice to get other views i personally will be sticking to my way for most of the leek crop but it may be an idea to try some another way as an experiment just to see how they perform nothing ventured nothing gained A

[Dirt Diver]

rowlandwells - you are so right, its great to hear all the different comments and you can try each and see which suit your soil and location. I am going to try both ways next year, I'm here to learn for the great teachers on this site.

Many thanks for all the comments

[hamstergbert]

There may be another benefit to the double-transplant carry-on. 

Many plants appear to respond to threats to their survival - and for a plant, having it's roots ripped out of the growing medium (and inevitably quite a few roots ripped or otherwise damaged) counts as a threat - by working extra hard to establish new stronger root systems as soon as the opportunity arises, such as being rammed into the next stage growing position.

It certainly seems to have some truth for brassicas - as has been discussed elsewhere in the forum, some of the old timers swear by chucking brassica seedlings onto the path and letting them worry for a while before planting them into their final growing positions.  Treating them mean appears to keep them keen!

(Of course there is a good reason for this - as the result of vegetative tissue damage the site of the trauma will usually be hit with a flood of damage repair plant hormones that sparks vigorous 'sink or swim' survival-oriented growth - the same mechanism that works in the old Murphys rooting hormone)