[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Afternoon All,

I have sandy soil, which I intend to manure and compost in autumn to firm up a bit....

I wanted to do the traditional hole and leek trick and water in the puddle method, but I dont think i'll be able to get the soil to stay in the holed position, and it's soo lose, and it'll just cave in, in no time.

Any suggestions, and is it crucial to do it this way?

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Thanks Bob, should the roots be covered or exposed at this point?

[mumofstig]

I have the same problem and give the bed where the leeks are going a good watering before I can dib them in. That makes it damp enough to stay in place while the leeks are getting planted 

[Aidy]

Blackpool like many other seaside towns around the country was once a beach, in fact it was out to sea many many moons ago, it is reclaimed land and the growing medium we have here is a different coloured beach (in some parts not so different!), in other words very sandy soil.
The methods I use is to either A. wait for it to rain so the soil is less dusty before dibbing my hole or B. water the line in for a couple of days before you intend to dib.
Both methods work fine up here

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Such a simple yet effective answer.

Water......

Thanks guys!

[Rich72]

I wet my dibber before making the hole then twist it round, wetting the sides of the hole. Keeps the soil from falling in the hole. I have lovely leeks if I do say so myself

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

So it doesnt matter if the soil falls in the next day?

It is purely about keeping the bottom half white, or gritty leeks?

[DD.]

It's about keeping the bottom white, you may get a bit of soil in the leaves, but as the leek grows from the inside, this will be pushed to the edge and top.

The hole is also there to allow the leek to expand without too much resistance, so a bit of crumbly soil falling in will not harm in that respect.

The deeper you can make the hole, the better, this will force the leek to grow upwards in search of the light.

[Sparkyrog]

Rather than earth up I drop 8 inch lengths of guttering downpipe over them

[mumofstig]

Some years I've saved up enough toilet rolls to put round them, but couldn't be bothered to collect them this year

[DD.]

I'd need a couple of hundred!