My Leeks are Seeding - Help

[Scar_UK]

Hi to all you gardeners and allotment holders, .. planted 72 leeks about a month ago and several are now showing signs of going to seed,: ... any ideas why? your advice would be helpful, I have been pulling out the long seed stems and feeling very sad as these were very strong young plants when I set them in, this year I set them in a bit deeper than last year 6", ... this year around 8.5 to 9".
I was looking forward as we all do to a bumper crop this winter, but it's not looking to good at the moment.
please help.

[kiwirach]

i cant help with the why, but am having the same issue with a few of the store brought seedlings i got this year. the ones i sowed from seed myself are all fine.
would also be interested in knowing more, and whether i should let them continue to grow and produce seed, or take them out and wait for one to go to seed next year.
thanks in advance.

[Two_Sheds]

have they been stressed/gone short of water? A few of mine are bolting (the rest have leek moth maggots) ... it's been very dry here, we've not had decent rain for over 2 months now.

[Two_Sheds]

whether i should let them continue to grow and produce seed

Why would you want them to produce seed? You want the seed of leeks that don't bolt early.

[Snadger]

For the first time ever some of my Musselborough leeks have sent up premature seedheads. Haven't done anything different to what I usually do so can only assume its climate related. Only one or two up til now, so here's hoping the majority will be ok!

[HayleyB]

Ooooer, I've got about 80 Musselburghs but they're ok at the moment but then most of them are under runner beans so I can't see a lot of them but they've been getting watered regularly so hopefully they won't bolt....

[zazen999]

It might have something to do with the strange 'summer'.....that we had in September.

[FionaH]

Couple of mine went to seed in august, I just made sure I used them first

[Scar_UK]

have they been stressed/gone short of water? A few of mine are bolting (the rest have leek moth maggots) ... it's been very dry here, we've not had decent rain for over 2 months now.

Hi Two Sheds and all you other very helpful individuals, lack of water – good suggestion although It may be relevant - they are set down around 8/9 inches deep and hopefully reasonably in damp conditions, however as this season (in my area Norfolk) has seen serious lack of rainfall I am inclined to think this may well be the cause, I have been watering them but it’s not the same as a good steady rainfall on a regular basis.
Yes I also have the dreaded leek maggot busy amongst them as well, and I suspect that due to them struggling to get away and grow strongly they are susceptible to these creatures as well.

[Two_Sheds]

... (in my area Norfolk)

Can you put that into your profile? Then we can all see where you are, and tailor advice appropriately.
Cheers!
Two_Sheds
Just Down The Road From You

[Flummery]

Dryness is usually inplicated. Nip out the flower buds straight away and use those leeks first. You'll have a thick stem down the centre - just take that out and use the rest.

[kiwirach]

Why would you want them to produce seed? You want the seed of leeks that don't bolt early.

ok thanks.....still new to this growing game!.

[Two_Sheds]

ok thanks.....still new to this growing game!.

You can save your own seeds: but save from your best plants ... biggest, tastiest, last-to-bolt etc

[roitelet]

Usually find that the leeks I planted for earlies are inclined to bolt but the ones to stand over winter don't, at least not until spring when you would expect them to!