[Totty]

The suggestion that leeks grow well, if totally buried in a hole that is deeper than they are is just not right. If it works for you then fine, each to their own. But they won't grow as well as they will if they are allowed some light with which to grow. Leeks will struggle to thicken up well if they get off to a weedy start.
Probably all irrelevant if you don't mind lots of smaller leeks, but I'd sooner have a hundred, that I only need one per meal, than 250 that I need to pull and prep 3 at a time.

Totty

[Growster...]

I'm with Growster.  Sow thickly in a seed bed in Feb.  Wait and plant out in June whatever size they are as deep as you fancy.  No need to mess about.

Absolutely, Robster!

Mrs Growster needs at least six leeks per soup, and a few at weekends for lunches! Ours always blanch well when planted on when very small (as mentioned before) and we had most around between two inches and  one and a half inches diameter, which was fine for what we wanted!

There were a few (about thirty) smaller leeks - around an inch diameter, but by then, we were well into late winter, and we look to other ideas for soup, like squash from the freezer!

It's down to the feeding programme for leeks - they want some serious attention early on, and the size they go into the dibbled holes is really irrelevant!

We gave away so many leeks last year, that we decided to use the space for things we could use more profitably!

Like peas - but don't mention this to DD, as he'll come down like a ton of bricks, and we'll never hear the last of it..;0)

[mumofstig]

Coo-ee Da-ave,

 
Growster's talking about you..................


 

[Growster...]

Coo-ee Da-ave,

 
Growster's talking about you..................


 

Ha ha ha, Mums!

DD's 'pencils - r - us' eh?

No doubt I'll get a visit from Leics pretty soon, but it's too late, they're already in!


edit to fix quote

[Robster]

JB47  Cracking advice.  I'll be giving that a go.  Thanks

[Robster]

Never had a problem with small leeks with my method.  I think as long as they go in early enough and are spaced well then you'll get a good sized leek.  Theres a heck of a lot of root on a mature leek.  Mine are about 8 inches apart when planted out.  Seems OK.

I was planning to do some last night but its been raining hard so didn't fancy it

[Lincs Lottie]

Hi,
I was hoping to get some leek plants from the allotment committee but they aren't doing them this year. 
Is it too late to sow some from seed?
If not, am I best to start them in modules in the greenhouse and, if so,which variety please?
I've never started them from seed before so any advice greatly appreciated.
Hope if won't have to wait until next year to grow them again, though.

Thanks.
LL xx

[JayG]

Do you have any garden centres in your area which could possibly have some leek plants?

Any leeks sown now will not have long to get to a decent size, although baby leeks are quite trendy at the moment, if not very filling!

[mumofstig]

most of the seed suppliers sell them but they aren't cheap 

http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/leek-plants-cid394.html

[Growster...]

I'd check round for garden centres, as JayG says, Lincs, there should be some here and there, well, there were some here a few days ago!

Good luck, it's frustrating when things like this happen! Been there, done that!

[Beetroot Queen]

We sow into black flower buckets, they stay in those until they go into the final bed.

[al78]

We sow into black flower buckets, they stay in those until they go into the final bed.

That sounds a good idea, I'll try that next year.