Leeks Tell a numpty what I am doing wrong

Cat litter trays are good, as are the plastic boxes you get plums in. You just need something a bit deeper than a normal seed tray.

When to sow.....well I just read the seed pkt
Mine says to sow in March/April ......no hurry though as I don't want to eat them in the summer :blink:

Its a bit strange you grew them in 2 places and were both failures.

I wouldn't take it that you were necessarily doing anything wrong, some years its just a mixture of reasons.

Examples are waterlogged soil; too sandy soil so drains too easily; white rot in the soill that would give weedy plants; not enough nutition in soil (so add composted manure or fertilser); lack of potash (easily recified by adding appropiate fertiliser or sprinkling woodash)
I would suggest preparing soil, adding general fertiliser, not planting in same place as onions, garlic or other related crop in the previous few years. Probably once you stop worrying about it they will do it alright. I had a similar problem with brassicas but once I started liming the soil and firming the plants in, I've had great success.

Best of luck

i grew musselborough last year stentman,they were going great guns until the leek moth got them.

haha same here Sunshine!! 

I planted 50 leeks today using the cat litter tray method. The other half bought a new washing up bowl so I saved the old one from the bin!!

Few holes drilled later (and a quick wash with jeyes fluid) and it was filled with compost and the seeds were planted.. hardest part was trying to drop the seeds into the holes!!

Now a quick question if thats ok.. Can i start my spring onions off in the same way ?

thanks

Different for spring onions.

Try a small pinch in seed cells - around 6 or so.

Grow them in small clumps.

That's for early ones. Later sowings, straight in the ground for me.

Cool thanks DD I will start some off in seed cells tomorrow! Didnt realise you could grow then in clumps.. Its my first year at all this!

thanks for the advice