[Plot22]

I've just found out that all my leeks are seriously infested with the larvae of the leek moth, which according to the RHS online info has no effective remedy.
I'm afraid i've been ignoring them recently as they are tucked away in a corner and i've been busy elsewhere so i'm shocked how bad they look.  I'm going to pull them all up tomorrow.  My question is, once i've cut all the yucky bits off, can i freeze them.  I thought i'd just slice up the white bits, bag up and chuck in the freezer.  Any advice is appreciated   Also will this be a recurring problem from now on.  I'm obviously planning to grow leeks in a different bed next year, but should i plant under mesh to be on the safe side.  I thought leeks would be trouble free!!  How wrong....

[beansticks]

Yes you can freeze them.

[Trillium]

But do seal them well or you'll soon notice an oniony smell in your freezer that will permeate into fruits, cakes, breads, etc.

[Tattyanne456]

I too have the same problem, last year I left  the leeks in the ground and peeledevery one,then squashed all the little blighters! The leeks looked dreadful when I had finished, but they soon ressurected and I had some lovely leeks at the end of it!

[Plot22]

Thanks for the replies.  The leeks are now out and there is a huge vat of leek and potato soup simmering on the stove.  The bed is dug over so hopefully the birds will come and help clear up any beasties.  Also noticed it has got into my chives and spring onions planted close by.

[rickman]

Having discovered the same issue with my own leeks I was chatting to one of the other plot holders about it, he passed on a snippet that one of the older chaps had given him as a tip (he says it works and predates easily available chemicals):
       Cut the foliage off the leek as far down as necessary to get below the moth grubs, this may be almost ground level depending on how far they have got into the leek, for some it may not be far enough, better to lose a few rather than all. Leeks being a collection of leaves effectively growing from a base will just keep growing.

It may slow them down a bit but I thought it worth a try and reduced all my leeks in stature quite dramatically over the weekend, I will report back any future success or failure.

[rickman]

Severely pruned leeks have all made 2-3 inches of growth in the last week, bug free growth I am glad to say, some of these old tricks really do appear to be worth a try.