[Rich72]

Evening all. Been reading about planting out leeks and think I may have gone wrong somewhere. I sowed mine in march but they are still like blades of grass. If I thin them out will the others thicken up? Or shall I just plant them all out and hope for the best

[sunshineband]

Plan them out

There is plenty of growing time before you need to harvest them

[mattwragg94]

mine were sown in the greenhouse in march too and they stayed in there for about a month - and they didn't grow beyond the size of a blade of grass (like yours), so i planted them out in mid april and they are now the same size as a pencil!!

- so as Sunshineband says plant them out!! 

[the Kergan]

Sowed mine in pots in unheated greenhouse second week of March. I planted them out this last weekend and they were like chives. Very thin but they seem ok and I'm sure they will fatten up.

Hmmmm, perhaps I did plant my chives 

[AnneB]

I wouldn't worry. Mine were really thin when I put them in last year, but raced away to make a fine crop after.  I grew Bleu de Solaise and planted them out after the first early spuds.

[Rich72]

Thanks everyone. Will get them planted out this week then.
One last question....is there actual scientific reasoning behind the practice of trimming the roots prior to planting out?

[rcf100]

Was reading, I think on here, that trimming roots and tops is not necessary and doesn't give an advantage.  I've not trimmed and mine are doing lovely, been out for about a month and I'm way up north

[the Kergan]

I top and tailed mine for two reasons. Trimming the roots made them easier to put into the dibbed holes and leave part of the whole open to blanch the stems. And trimming the tops made them stand up in the holes easier rather than them drooping about the place.

I wouldn't say I have a military planting regeime but I do like neat straight rows 

[Auntiemogs]

I have perfected my 'twizzling' technique. 

[Madame Cholet]

the same with mine too many seeds in the tray they looked like grass i planted them out about 2 weeks ago and the've grow a little already

[mumofstig]

I have perfected my 'twizzling' technique. 

Me too 

[DD.]

I have perfected my 'twizzling' technique. 

Even so, you can end up with a lot of root under the stem.

I always trim mine, they drop all the way down and take root in a day or two. It's like pruning - it encourages more growth!

[mumofstig]

I always think getting them out of the trays prunes them enough - but I am clumsy 

[sarajane]

I always top 'n tail my leeks too.  I've never ever got to the stage where they are pencil thickness when planted out, but as soon as my skinny chive like leaves are planted out, they seem to swell up in a couple of weeks once in their allocated individual hole.

I sowed in pots in March and then 4 weeks ago put them all together into the outside soil and they will be planted out individually at the end on June so don't fret, they will be lovely and thick by the end of autumn when they are ready to crop.

[Plot74]

I planted seeds into a seed bed outside about a month ago. They are now about two inches high .
I also bought leek plants a dubbed them in two weeks ago just in case the seeds did not come through only to find the seeds are now going great guns so I will end up with a good few leeks not that I am bothered as they are one of my favourite vegetables .
It may disrupt my planting rotation but I will have to rethink that for next year.
John