Leek shaving

[Aberdeenplotter]

Apologies Snadge, I thought you meant reverting to type of an earlier generation which of course doesn't make sense if the plants are being cloned. I personally haven't had a problem with virus although John Soulsby in his video does make reference to it and how some varieties tend to be able to grow through it. Of course, I'm up here in the sticks well away from where the virus is prevalent. I put a couple of blanch leeks down to seed from last year, one has produced a single seed head, the other has produced none. Because of the exceptionally warm weather in April, that head has already split and is covered in grass. Problem is it is much much too early. I normally harvest the grass in late October/Early November and then start the leeks into growth but to do so now would almost certainly result in them bolting next year. I can only try to keep them going on the leek head as long as possible and when I do harvest them, plant them up but just keep them ticking and hope for the best.

[chris]

Are you growing them for showing or eating, AP?

[Aberdeenplotter]

Are you growing them for showing or eating, AP?

They all get eaten whether showed or not except for those put down to seed the following year.

[poacher113]

hi folks,this is my personal method for setting leeks for leek grass.leave your chosen leek in the ground until it throws its seed head,i let it winter off a bit so that it actualy feels some cold weather ( from previous experience i think this stops the young leeks from bolting early in the growing season)then around mid november i dig the leek up and take about 4 to 5 layers of flag off,then cut the root base off to the new cut flag layer,then i cut the leek to the size of about 6 inches discarding all the green leaves(flags)then i bring the leek inside the heated greenhouse until the leek produces new roots,then i place it in a 12 inch pot with m3 levingtons compost and leave it to its own devices until it throws a second seed head the following year.good luck folks!.

[zazen999]

Yesterday, we potted on this year's leeks from grass after pulling the grasses from the heads 3 weeks earlier.

The students couldn't believe the root system on them already

[lizzylemon]

Wow! I have sooooooo much to learn. Luckily I'm not planning to grow Leeks. Shaving, heads, grass, flags - eek!