Leeks getting thinner

When did you plant them out into the position they are in now, Hubballi ?

It's November.

It's got cold and things have stopped growing. They're obviously not establishing any new roots. It's totally the wrong time of year to be transplanting leeks.

I agree with the others that transplanting them at this time of year was a bad idea but you can't expect much if any further growth once the cold and dark sets in anyway.

If you sowed them at the beginning of the year your problems started a lot longer than 2 weeks ago if they are still biro-sized - when were they first transplanted out into the garden?

Leeks need as long as possible and also the best that summer has to offer  in their final growing position to achieve their full potential. Late June is late enough where I am - they usually follow new potatoes although I had to find a new patch for them this year because the spuds were very late.

I had trouble in the first year getting them beyond biro-sized before planting out (in fact they stuck at biro refill-size for weeks on end) but since then I've found they appreciate occasional liquid feeding which helps considerably.

Thanks Sally. Will bear it in mind for next season. I don't know if this is a problem for many here but in the winter months I hardly get any sunlight in the garden due to it being walled and the sun quite low. It's a Victorian semi terraced.

but in the winter months I hardly get any sunlight in the garden due to it being walled and the sun quite low. It's a Victorian semi terraced.

We know that (we arranged a visit to your garden if you remember).  All of your growing problems are due to a damp shady environment.  Heaven for slugs and moulds an hell for veg plants

Having had biro-sized leek seedlings when they needed to be planted out, I have done this the last two years: pricked out at the three-leaf stage into bigger pots at nine per 5-7" pot in multi-purpose compost and are then gardually hardened off, depending on the weather. Then I keep them in these pots but bump feed with dilute Maxicrop. They definitely put on weight and are ready for planting out in June. There are always a few that don't get to the right thickness, but I may try bigger pots next year for max results.