Skinny leeks!

[Chickenlady]

Our leeks are ready and lovely!

Have you had very dry weather since you planted them? I think they do need quite a bit of water and, as Nev says, nitrogen.

Sorry - I feel a bit sensible now...

[Millymollymandy]

Right you 'orrible lot!

Shiney - did you transplant your leeks when they were the thickness of a pencil? Or did you just sow the seeds and leave them in place?

I have leeks aplenty and sewed them directly into the soil. I then transplanted most of them, which is what you are supposed to do. The transplanted ones get planted deeply in the soil (to help with the blanching). You also 'top and tail' them at this time - cut off the top growth so the leek is about 9" long and trim the roots - although there are two schools of thought on this one - to trim or not to trim). Later on I earthed up a bit around the stems to help with the blanching some more.

The ones that I didn't transplant are still quite thin, and don't have much white. The others range from big fat leeks to the odd skinny one.

They've all got rust though - any tips/hints on that?

No I thought not!

[shiney]

Thanks MMM,

I didn't transplant them. I just sowed them and then thinned them. So I guess thats the problem. They've had plenty of water and maybe not enough nitrogen. So...skinny leek soup for us then this time.

I know nothing about rusty leeks ~ infact I know very little!

[ina]

If it's any consolation - my leeks are just as skinny as yours....
And I did transplant them. Only I didn't read the instructions first - so no topping (they were in modules, anyway); and I didn't plant them deep enough. I think you are supposed to plant them in 15cm deep holes and NOT fill the holes or firm it up. Next time, I hope - because I love leeks, and wish I had my own!

Ina

[Tigerhair]

Hey, Shiney
Fattened em up any?
Apparently chicken poo is high in nitrogen (my course has taught me something!!! Woo HOO)

[Wombat]

Yep, Tigerhair but the fresh stuff will "burn" the plants so you have to let it age and rot down for a while before using it directly on the plants.

Nev

[kevin m.]

With all the talk of drink on this thread,then why not try the 'Geordie' Leek growers' tip- give your Leeks a drink of 'Newcastle Broon Ale'.
Mind you-make sure that you filter it through your kidneys first!
Seriously though,I really think that they should have been well supplied with nitrogen in the summer,as I think that too much nitrogen now leads to weak plant tissue that isn't so good at handling cold weather (not that it's particularly cold at the moment).
As a native of Exhibition Leek growing country,I don't go in for shows,preferring to simply grow for the pot-so my leeks aren't anything to shout about either!

[Shirley]

Right... that's it.. leeks are on my seed shopping list now - got plenty of rotted chicken poo thanks to our lovely chooks!

Will also add newcastle brown ale to my list - boy that takes me back to the days of Jilly's rock club in Manchester and bottles of newky brown to guzzle

Will see how ours turn out next year then - fat or skinny.

[gunners71uk]

my leeks are short stumpy but thick i get mr leek to meet one of your mrs leek and we will get a perfect one ,did you eart them up

[shiney]

I didn't do a lot of things Gunners, but with all this invaluable info (including the beer idea) I will hopefully learnt a few lessons. That's what its all about ~ trial and error.

[Tigerhair]

Shiny
Quoting Jackie French in Soil Food:

"Small skinny leeks will grow in almost any soil. Big, fat tender leeks need good soil - or at least good feeding. Luckily, leeks mature so slowly that you have time to correct the problems of poor soil.

Plant either in a trench of compost, or mulch very well with a high-nitrogen mulch. If your mulch is poor quality use a quick-fix fertiliser on top of the mulch every two weeks. I also give liquid fertiliser about three or four times a growing season."

Just fort you'd like to know

[Millymollymandy]

Mine just had general purpose fertiliser sprinkled over the veg patch before I started sowing anything, and nothing after. There was no compost or manure added at all.

However I think I've got nitrogen rich soil due to all the happy nettles.

Another thing - size of leeks depends on the variety. I have some tall skinnyish ones called King Richard but my short fat stumpy ones are called Blaugroene Herfst Ardea (or something like that, perhaps Ina could translate that one!).

[Wombat]

"all purpose fertilizer"???????????? You can be sent to organic gardeners hell for that you know M3

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

Shhhhhh don't tell anyone Nev. I won't be using it any more because I finally found some organic phosphorus - I've got everything else, dried blood, wood ash etc.

I do live in France where these things are not so easy to find!!!

[Wombat]

Fair enough! I promise to keep your secret this time!

Nev