[Kristen]

Still trying to sus out how to get those "pencil thickness" leeks that everyone goes on about!

I think its a myth ... I've never had pencil-thickness to transplant, and I've come to the conclusion that length is more important than girth ... I want mine to stick out of the top of the dibber-hole so they get some daylight.

[sunshineband]

I just do mine the same as everyone else on here.
Ive also tried the cat litter tray method this year for the first time and so far so good they are better seedlings than my old method,and no transplanting into bigger pots so whoever put that tip up on here a big thanks.

You're welcome!

As another 'first time cat litter tray grower' I can honestly say that this year's leeks are so far much superior  and some are already pencil thick 

[JayG]

As another 'first time cat litter tray grower' I can honestly say that this year's leeks are so far much superior  and some are already pencil thick 

.......and I can honestly say that I'm as sick as a nearly-dead parrot who has just been given the news that his first-time leek seedlings still look more like a biro-refill than a pencil!   

(They will be taking their chance in the garden very soon even if I never see them again!)

[sunshineband]

As another 'first time cat litter tray grower' I can honestly say that this year's leeks are so far much superior  and some are already pencil thick 

.......and I can honestly say that I'm as sick as a nearly-dead parrot who has just been given the news that his first-time leek seedlings still look more like a biro-refill than a pencil!   

(They will be taking their chance in the garden very soon even if I never see them again!)

Maybe by the time the noew spuds are dug up, those leeks will be thicker and ready to go out


PS Mine have always been the biro refill sort up until this year and still made good leeks eventually 

[JayG]

You are very kind Sunshine; me and my poorly parrot are both very grateful to you! 

[mumofstig]

As another 'first time cat litter tray grower' I can honestly say that this year's leeks are so far much superior   and some are already pencil thick   

Just to make you sick Jay, this is my 2nd year with the littertray leeks and some of mine are pencil thick as well 

[davethespread]

i done the cat litter tray trick this year too,and people down the plot were saying jeez them leeks look well,chuffed or what

[Kristen]

No one posting any photos, just boasting eh?  I still think pencil-thick leek seedlings is a myth then ... (I'm going to regret this, aren't I?!!)

[davethespread]

No one posting any photos, just boasting eh?  I still think pencil-thick leek seedlings is a myth then ... (I'm going to regret this, aren't I?!!)

sorry kristen they are in the ground now

[Yorkie]

I did the litter tray thing and they all got eaten (before being planted out onto the plot!)

[davethespread]

your not supposed to put the litter tray on the floor for the cat afterwards yorkie

[Yorkie]

 

  Knew there was something 

[Swing Swang]

Girth or length isn't too critical - certainly no need to worry about pencils!

[diggerjoe]

with you JayG - pencil thickness !!! if only - mine are all on a diet  skinny minnies the lot of them perhaps they dont like the colour of the cat litter tray or they will grow into very slim elegant leeks - onions from seed were the same skinny efforts and not putting on any weight in the plot either - dont think I'll bother with spring onions they proabaly wont even germinate 

[Snoop]

No one posting any photos, just boasting eh?  I still think pencil-thick leek seedlings is a myth then ... (I'm going to regret this, aren't I?!!)

Well, I've just taken a photo but can't find the cable to connect the camera to the computer (honest). In the meantime, you'll just have to take my word for it that my leeklets are indeed pencil thick. The longest leaves are about 30 cm long.

This is my first attempt at growing leeks the DD way, though instead of a cat litter tray, I used a washing up bowl. In fact, it's my first attempt ever at growing leeks from seed. They were sown on 21 March and have had two small feeds of nitrogen fertiliser.

I bet if you give yours some of the nitrogen fertiliser you mentioned in your diary, they'll shoot up and out.