leeks

hi people i have just picked my leeks and found a brown line going down the stem with a small like stretched egg shape thing eating into them .any ideas...cheers

It sounds like leek moth caterpillars, from what I've read on other sites.

This is a particularly nasty fellow, with no useful chemical or natural controls, since once they're inside the leek they're largely immune to any sprays. Infestation usually results in the loss of the crop.

The only effective method is to use fleece or enviromesh to prevent them laying their eggs in the first place.

Rob.