[arugula]

12 different answers from 10 different experienced gardeners?

[Beetroot queen]

12 different answers from 10 different experienced gardeners?

I hope you didnt count me in that experienced bunch, i belong in the dont really have a clue bunch, try it and see.

Try half anf leave the others and compare results. Always up for an experiment.

[Aidy]

I have found the most de-stressing part of gardening is trimming me leeks and popping them into my nicely dibbed holes.

However this year I ponderd over the same question and decided to trim one row and leave the other after reading so many different discussions.
So as they stand...

Both look the same in the way new leaves etc are growing, to my eyes (remember I am in that profession  ) it appears to be no different thus far.

[Beetroot queen]

I have found the most de-stressing part of gardening is trimming me leeks and popping them into my nicely dibbed holes.

However this year I ponderd over the same question and decided to trim one row and leave the other after reading so many different discussions.
So as they stand...

Both look the same in the way new leaves etc are growing, to my eyes (remember I am in that profession  ) it appears to be no different thus far.

So it all comes down to the fact whether you want to play barber or not then.  after spending so long trying to get them to grow to a chive thickness i'll be blowed if i am chopping parts off now

[arugula]

12 different answers from 10 different experienced gardeners?

I hope you didnt count me in that experienced bunch,

I meant John and the RHS bods really and the numbers were arbitrary.

Half and half is a good way, then you can see what suits you best.

[Tom Hill]

On my allotment the pigeons do the snipping of the tops to ground level for me.
The problem is that they keep doing it !

[DD.]

Its and old wives tale.

As you keep saying!

I shall, however, keep trimming. Even if they drop into the hole neater, it's worth it.

[Aunt Sally]

The Science (IMO):

Damaged roots won't grow well and they do get damaged by lifting them and pushing them into a hole.

If the roots are trimmed they will throw out new ones from the basal plate.  Trimming the tops cuts down transpiration while they establish their new root system.

[DD.]

And that is precisely what I've said in previous years!

Here's one from 3 years ago!

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=49415.msg584009#msg584009

But I'm just an old wife! 

[Aunt Sally]

I don't think you're old DD 

[DD.]

Hey, it's OK - all a bit of fun!

[fatcat1955]

After a hard day's graft i just love this site. DO NOT TRIM. No really do whatever float's your boat.

[Aunt Sally]

Fatcat how can you turn trimming leeks into sex!!

Shame on you BobE 

It means whatever "soothes your soul" or whatever "works best" Aka- Whatever you feel like doing.

[Salmo]

I go with a good trimming at both ends. With no trimming of the roots they go into the holes as a tangled mass, trim them and they start a new lot

If you have decent sized leek plants the outer leaves tend to touch the ground when dropped into the holes. This is usually too much temptation for worms and they pull these ends into their burrows. I have even had plants pulled right out of the planting holes in this way.

[Sparkyrog]

I probably shouldn't say this ! But my leeks have never failed me and I always trim !