Leeks - really thin seedlings every time - where am I doing wrong?

worded · 15-05-2009 12:41PM #1

I might try a different brand but perhaps its me and my method.

Sewing them indoors.

Do they need loads of light (note all other seedlings in the same room are ok)

Gordon Gekko · 15-05-2009 05:16PM

Leeks always come up very thin and grass-like. Plant them into their holes, water them in, and they'll fill out in no time.

dardevle · 15-05-2009 05:21PM

Gordon Gekko wrote: »

Leeks always come up very thin and grass-like. Plant them into their holes, water them in, and they'll fill out in no time.

.

+1

...almost feel bad planting them out because they are so scrawny but they are tough little so and so's and will usually do fine.

.

worded · 20-05-2009 10:38PM

Do you bury them deep? With some green still above ground naturally.

Gordon Gekko · 21-05-2009 08:01AM

Make a hole in the ground about 9 inches deep - I find the handle of a broken spade perfect - just push the handle 9 inches into the ground. Then just drop your baby leek into the hole and do not fill in the soil around it - just fill the hole with water. The leek will grow and will fill out the hole quickly. Some people trim the top off the shoots of the leek to just below ground level as this helps stop birds pulling them out until the roots have established. Also, trimming the roots to a length of about 2 inches helps them to get their roots into the ground quicker.

davenewt · 21-05-2009 08:57AM

Gordon Gekko wrote: »

Also, trimming the roots to a length of about 2 inches helps them to get their roots into the ground quicker.

Conflicting advice here - in case it's of interest...

http://www.allotment.org.uk/garden_month/garden-may.php wrote:

With leeks a good rule of thumb is to get the seedling about as thick as a pencil. Dib a hole about six inches deep using something like a spade handle and drop the seedling in. Water well and allow the soil to fall back in naturally.

The old method of trimming the roots and top before transplanting leeks is not actually a good thing and has been shown to be detrimental. It's a big enough shock to the plant being taken out of its seedbed!

But I'm no expert, this is my first year growing veg and I planted the seed straight out in the patch a month or so ago, seedlings coming up now. Just need to get some netting to keep random cats from digging holes everywhere and disturbing the veg that's trying to grow! :mad:

average_runner · 21-05-2009 10:33AM

I planted leeks into my veggie patch striaght from the pack last march and still nothing. I have given up on them as maybe the cold weather killed them.

So planted the new seeds in little containers in the shed yesterday where they get good sunlight to see if anything happens(more of an experiment for these now).

To stop the cats i just put black netting over my small patch
Mot balls keeps cats away too, not sure if you can use them in veggie patch though

Leeks - really thin seedlings every time - where am I doing wrong?

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