[Growster...]

Oh NO!!! That means i have to be organised and everything now! 

Yup! And I'll be the first to see your post Totes!

You are being warned!!!

;0)

(Just search on Growster's past posts to realise that it's what we're all here for ...;0)

[AlaninCarlisle]

Y'know, it's talk like this that makes me so impatient for spring and the chance to grow stuff even better

[Growster...]

'Spring' starts on the shortest day Alan, because the shallots go in then...;0)

[seedman]

Like any other veg, there are winners and losers.

This year I grew Prizetaker and heirloom King Richard leeks. Both were started on the same day, in the same large pot of starter mix, etc, etc. Both were planted out the same day in the same section of garden, watered the same time, etc.

By late summer, it was very obvious which was the better grower......King Richard. It was twice the size of prizetaker in all ways and didn't bolt at all. Guess which single leek I'm growing next year?

Prize taker 

[AlaninCarlisle]

I've just harvested a couple of the Musselburgh leeks. They're about 2" in diameter, nowhere near going to seed but are split lengthwise, almost as if the centres have grown too stout for the outer sections. Is this preventable or is it maybe due to growing conditions continuing for longer than normal this year?

[Growster...]

I've just harvested a couple of the Musselburgh leeks. They're about 2" in diameter, nowhere near going to seed but are split lengthwise, almost as if the centres have grown too stout for the outer sections. Is this preventable or is it maybe due to growing conditions continuing for longer than normal this year?

Hmmm, we noticed the outer - say - two rings drying out, and occasionally splitting at the top, but not all the way down.

I'm putting it down to the long mild autumn keeping them growing for longer than they should, they've got very long, not necesarily bolting, and they're just drying out!

This could apply to yours, but others may have a more coherent solution!

Presumably, you can still use them? 2" diameter isn't bad at all!

[DD.]

It could be worse.

I don't think leek moth has got that far north yet. You have that pleasure to come. 

[New shoot]

Well I've invested in an autumn variety of leek to go with my Bleu de Solaise next year, so I'm relying on you Growster and Totalnovice to remind me to plant them  :blink: 


The early ones have a golden tinge to the foliage and the later ones are classic steely blue, so colour coding as well    I'm getting a headache already thinking about this 


Nice to hear from you DD - haven't seen you post for a while 

[DD.]

Not been well, but OK now!

[New shoot]

Not been well, but OK now!

Glad to hear you are OK now     

[AlaninCarlisle]

Hmmm, we noticed the outer - say - two rings drying out, and occasionally splitting at the top, but not all the way down.

I'm putting it down to the long mild autumn keeping them growing for longer than they should, they've got very long, not necesarily bolting, and they're just drying out!

This could apply to yours, but others may have a more coherent solution!

Presumably, you can still use them? 2" diameter isn't bad at all!

Yes, the long growing time was my explanation too. Yes, they're perfectly usable, in fact the biggest I've ever grown, just take a fair bit of cleaning where soil and debris has got into the split. TESCO would reject them on sight

[Growster...]

Hmmm, we noticed the outer - say - two rings drying out, and occasionally splitting at the top, but not all the way down.

I'm putting it down to the long mild autumn keeping them growing for longer than they should, they've got very long, not necesarily bolting, and they're just drying out!

This could apply to yours, but others may have a more coherent solution!

Presumably, you can still use them? 2" diameter isn't bad at all!

Yes, the long growing time was my explanation too. Yes, they're perfectly usable, in fact the biggest I've ever grown, just take a fair bit of cleaning where soil and debris has got into the split. TESCO would reject them on sight

Oh, I'm with you there Alan!

Twongos would have cast the 'Growster leeks' asunder in a flish!

But there again, they don't understand the value of Mrs Growster, who says, 'S** that they're fine; I'll do a bit of work on them...2!

;0)

[AndyRVTR]

Oh NO!!! That means i have to be organised and everything now! 

  Love it....

[Aidy]

Pretty much evry person I have spoken to on different sites are having the same issues.... bolty leeks.
Everyone here is again putting it down to a mild Autumn.

[JayG]

Cooked 3 of my leeks (in cheese sauce) on Saturday, two of which I knew had bolted, although I did break off the flower heads as soon as I noticed them.

Obviously had a darker green stem running up the middle but were very tender and still tasted delish, and my two guests didn't notice either!