Mown off leek seedlings

 
As if this year wasn't hard enough, the one thing i did have going well were my leeks. They are (were) approx 10" tall about a fortnight away from final position after i'd lifted my reasonable crop of wintered onions. I've gone out this morning to let the chooks out and seen they've been mown off completely by something to about 4" tall. Is it worth dibbing them in or have they had it? What with the weather this year and rust and weeds and slugs and everything else i seriously wonder why i bother......

In 2 weeks they will grow new leaves and you will be able to dib in as planned.

Thanks, I hope so Salmo, i'm going down to 2.5 rod plot now and i'm giving it one more year. If i can't manage at that or i lose a load of crops again..... 

I always trim the roots hard back on mine & cut the leaves back to make them nice & tidy, then drop them into a well formed hole.  Most of mine are only just peeping out of the hole....or actually beneath ground level, for a week or so, so having the tops'nipped off' shouldn't hurt.

Thanks DoubleDigger, i'll go for it then.... 

Trim the leaves to reduce moisture loss via the leaves on transplanting & the roots to promote new root growth, because you wont get long straggly roots down the panting hole & new roots will take on water & food faster than old ones in 'mid-air'.

Same principal as cutting 2/3rds of the leaf off a soft, leafy cutting to reduce moisture loss.

Also works ( leaf cutting - not root) on leafy brassicas planted in open ground.

You just want  'bristle' of root & about 2/3's of the leafy top.

Never trim mine, too much faff and always get good leeks.

"How are you supposed to lay those in & under soil at the bottom of a hole, un-trimmed" ?


If the roots are long Double, just dip them in a can of water, and they gather together nicely, and gain a little weight, so that you can drop them in the hole cleanly.

Works a treat!