What to do next? My leeks still look like grass

[JaniceH]

Hi all
I sowed my leek seeds (F1 Below zero) at the end of February indoors in a large deep pot. After getting to 2-3 inches tall, they were moved out to my four shelf blowaway (brought them in overnight for a good while) and after being hardened off, they are now on the shelves without the plastic on the blowaway.However, the packet says plant out when pencil thick. Mine are still looking like blades of grass and around 6 inches high but healthy looking. The blowaway is attached to my garden fence in a sheltered area and doesn't get any direct sun.

What do I do next please? Do they need to be planted out in deep dibbed holes or put in a nursery bed, or just left in the pot? Help?

[sparrow100]

Have you fed them at all? MPC only contains nutrients for about 6 weeks. Mine are in a standard trough planter, sown about the same time but I give mine a weak comfrey feed every now and then and they are nearing pencil thickness. They're also Below Zero F1 - don't they look fantastic on the packet?!

[craftymarie]

I had a similar issue and mine just we're not bulking up, nothing like pencil thickness. However the roots were super long and spiralling around and around the bottom of the pots so I bit the bullet and planted mine out yesterday in my raised bed. Probably done the wrong thing but they'd been hardened off so hoping that they grow more now in the ground. Hopefully a leek expert will drop by and advise

[lmayhow]

Following as this is my question at the moment, happy roots but not pencil thickness.... if we are to pop leeks out do we dib a regular sized hole and drop them in?

[sparrow100]

Yes. As long as the leaves can make it over the top of the hole...

[cristalfiona]

I don't have space to plant out my leeks (and PSB and winter kale... etc....) until some stuff has finished growing this summer, so I'm slowly potting things on to larger pots as needed. My leeks started off in a tray, the first batch went into individual modules and are now in small pots. They'll probably go up a size again in a couple of weeks. They're not at pencil thickness yet, I'd say more of a thin paintbrush but they're getting there. The second batch are still in modules and are probably due a re-pot, but I've not got round to it yet. They have all had a light nitrogen rich feed a couple of weeks ago.

This may not be the best method but due to my space issues I don't have much of a choice. I'd rather have 20ish smallish leeks (PSB, kale...) that I've nurtured over the summer and planted late than no leeks at all (again).

[lottie dolly]

My leek and onions are the same,but they will get 2 chances,sink or swim,thanks for the feeding tip,i have lots of foul smelling comfrey mix to go at,other plot holder know when i lift the lid hehehe.

[ChrissieG]

Same here with my leeks, just like grass, but they have made a bit of growth in the past week. I have resorted to buying some starter plants that are doing well, planted out 3 weeks ago.

At least I will have a crop later, all being well. The weaklings will be planted later, maybe next week

[Shadylane]

I always plant mine out on the plot, all together in a clump, about a month before planting in final places. They thicken up nicely which makes it easier to dib in. Our neighbours, on the other hand, plant theirs out when they look like grass. They always catch up and do really well.

[noviceveggrower]

Mine are like grass as well. Not doing very well at all this year. Thinking of taking pics of them for most dramatic failure ready for the Vine veg growing competition.

[Kirk]

My leeks went in like bits of grass and have picked up, they look like slightly more upright bits of grass. However no real amount bigger just a bit sturdied.

Owing to experience of the last few years I have reduced the number of leeks, too often gone in pencil thickness and after 8 months come out pencil thickness. So just a row of them and a bit of a mixture.

Should be fun this year as I foolishly tried some old seed and for whatever reason it has germinated, so half my row is unexpected leeks.

Best I can offer is prepare wherever they are to be planted, planet them in their destined location, water in and leave to see what transpires.