[Nogger]

does anyone recommend certain types of leeks,i have grown musselberough the last two years but fancy a change  

[DD.]

For size or taste?

[PAH48]

Hi .... Flextam , Mammoth or Orsman

all good regular shaped and predictable
best of luck

PAH 'in

[Nogger]

not too concerned about size,but the musselb this year seemed a little on the stump size, so i would prefer taste

[PAH48]

Hi .... We ate mammoth tonight, personally I prefer
Musselburg,  but its all down to individual taste
best of luck

PAH 'in

[shaun]

they all taste the same to me  :roll:  

[DD.]

Have you tried cooking them, Shaun?

[Motivator]

For size Robinson giant blanch leek , To get very large plant seeds
 with a touch heat , Couple of weeks should be about right.

[robbodaveuk]

For size Robinson giant blanch leek , To get very large plant seeds
 with a touch heat , Couple of weeks should be about right.

Those are the seeds I have for this year. Never having grown leeks before, I would really appreciate it if you could explain a little more Motivator.

  Robbo.

[Motivator]

Will do a bit later am at work so have to be a bit cute on the web use .


Here is a link to the Robinsons web site. Explains alot .

http://www.exhibition-seed.info/cultivation.htm#leek

[philskin]

hello motivator can you help me im growing leeks for the 1st time this year if i can i would like to see if i can enter some in the local show but i dont understand about growing on the flat

                                                        ( (Trench and manure the same as for onions when growing for exhibition, but use only half the amount of Bone Meal and Sulphate of Potash. For exhibition do not plant in trenches but on the flat no nearer than 30cm X 30cm.            

 im ok on the spacing but growing on the flat is this horizontal or what thanks from a beginner

[Motivator]

Ok iam not a expert but by on the flat means not in a trench , So the
 steam keeps  clean  ,  Use a pipe or something similer to create the
 blanch. Here is a post from a chap on a forum that i use now and again.
 Might be helpfull.

  Planting outdoors:
Pot leeks should have 7 to 10 days hardening off in a cold frame before planting out. About a week before planting, rake 50g plant food powder per sq metre (per 1 sq yd) into the surface of the soil. Pot leeks are planted with soil up to their lowest flag whilst Blanch leeks are planted so that their bases are about 10cm (4in) below the surface. Make a suitable hole for each plant and sprinkle in a little plant foodpowder to encourage the roots to penetrate the soil. From now on the soil is never allowed to dry out. Root and foliar feed once a week with full strength plant foodfrom the end of June onwards. Regular feeds are essential for actively growing leeks; the high potash content of plant foodkeeps the plants robust.

Lengthening blanch leeks:
When the plants show about 20cm (8in) above the surface, place a cardboard tube about 10cm (about 4in) long and 25mm (1in) in diameter over each one. This is replaced with a standard land drain tile 30cm x 9cm (12in x 31/2in) when the plants reach 45cm (about 18 in) in length. By improvising with tubes of various sizes, the length of the leek can be slowly increased. Never cover the uppermost third of the plant; this only weakens the growth.

[philskin]

thanks for that motivator ,only just read the thread been busy sorting a shed out for the mrs

[DD.]

been busy sorting a shed out for the mrs

That sounds a good swap!

[beansticks]

I was very successful with Toledo,will grow them again this year.