leeks !!!!!!

[archerellie3425]

i sowed my leeks at the end of january in 3" paper pots, they are doing very well at around 4-5" and 3-4 in each pot, my question is, do i wait until they are pencil thick and transplant them seperately into deep holes or should i plant them as they are ( i saw this method used somewhere as they apparently push each other apart to find their own space), and if the later do they need earthing up and is it possible that they wont grow very large due to the closeness (sp) of them?, also when would you suggest these are planted out, they are outside at the moment.

[TEB]

The only method I have used is plant out when they are pencil thick (and when their is space available as they always follow some other crop) into 6" deep holes, 6" - 8" apart and fill with water

[markwcel]

i plant as above, the only time i plant them densly is for storing them until there is space

[zazen999]

i sowed my leeks at the end of january in 3" paper pots, they are doing very well at around 4-5" and 3-4 in each pot, my question is, do i wait until they are pencil thick and transplant them seperately into deep holes or should i plant them as they are ( i saw this method used somewhere as they apparently push each other apart to find their own space), and if the later do they need earthing up and is it possible that they wont grow very large due to the closeness (sp) of them?, also when would you suggest these are planted out, they are outside at the moment.

They do push themselves apart, but if you want decent sized leeks, their final position would need to give them space to grow.

Some put them in after the spuds come out and some [me included] will put some in spare spaces over the coming months, over a long period, to lengthen the season. Earlier smaller leeks can be picked smaller and other cane be left and harvested over winter.

[Victoria26]

I saw on the Gardening Channel last night that when transplanting leeks the guy put a hole in the soil with a long cane. Dropped a leek in, watered it and left it in the hole without pushing any soil around it.
(He said they would grow into the hole)
Is this normal?

[zazen999]

I saw on the Gardening Channel last night that when transplanting leeks the guy put a hole in the soil with a long cane. Dropped a leek in, watered it and left it in the hole without pushing any soil around it.
(He said they would grow into the hole)
Is this normal?

Yes, the deeper the better.

[Sue]

Victoria26
It wasn't just watering I was advised to do, it was puddling in apparently which means filling the hole with water which helps settle the soil over the roots.
If you have them growing in a pot together, they're very easy to tease apart and I know some people advise cutting root and shoot length - but not sure why, so don't do it myself.
Sue