[Anton]

Help please.
This is the first season in the new vegetable garden and so far my five rows of leeks are flourishing. I don't think the previous tenants ever grew the vegetable so that may be a help. Anyhow, previous experience tells me that the dreaded leek moth might decide to attack during this or the following months. How do I recognise the first signs? And last year, in the previous garden, I stopped the attack in its tracks by spraying the plants with a Rhododendron-based pesticide. Is it worth spraying the leeks preventively or just wait until I see signs of the dreaded lurgy?

Anton

[Benny130]

Can you not cover them? I now have to cover otherwise they never get to harvest.

[New shoot]

I do the same and use fine insect mesh over leeks and onions. 

[Anton]

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.
Well, last year I grew my leeks from seed (four rows), covered them almost straight away with fleece and took it off only when the pests were supposed to have ceased laying eggs and so on. But some of the leeks still got attacked and I ended up having to spray them.

As far as I know, nobody has ever grown leeks in my new vegetable garden before so I might be lucky this year and not have to spray. Fingers, legs and eyes crossed.

Anton