Nice White Leeks!

[Frana]

Any tips on effective blanching of leeks so that I can have nice long white stems to be proud of!

[Two_Sheds]

Blanching leeks increases the proportion of white stem. Start blanching in mid August, this is a gradual process and should be done in several stages rather than all at once. There are several methods of blanching depending on which way the leeks are growing.

If you have your leeks in a trench, gradually fill in the trench with soil to the bottom of the lowest leaves each time until the plants have finished growing, which will probably be around mid to late autumn.The soil used for earthing-up must be dry and of a fine texture. If you use wet earth, rot is liable to set in.

If the leeks are grown on flat ground (not in a trench), push the soil up around the plants increasing the soil depth by about 5 cm (2 in) each time (earthing up).

You can keep the stems free of soil by using collars, which are secured around the leeks up to the base of the leaves. Various materials can be used for the collar: plastic pipe, or pieces of strong brown paper tied on with string.
Attach the collars before earthing-up. As the plants grow, draw up more and more soil with a hoe fitting another collar above the first one.

A problem with collars is they make a nice cosy place for slugs to hide in.

[Frana]

Cheers Two Sheds!
Will definately give it a go!

[cazsudz]

Could you use loo roll inners as collars do you think?

[roadkill]

is their more to growing leeks than just making a deep hole and dropping the young leek in and filling with water???? i was just going to leave them till the winter when they should be ready ... What else do i need to do ???

[Frana]

Come to think of it, someone mentioned loo rolls to me.

The amount we go through in our house, I should have the whitest leeks on the plot.

[Kristen]

is their more to growing leeks than just making a deep hole and dropping the young leek in and filling with water???? i was just going to leave them till the winter when they should be ready ... What else do i need to do ???

I reckon you've got it!

You might earth them up a bit more if they are sticking well out of the ground (in the Autumn), and look out for any bugs, but that's about it for leeks - as far as I am concerned anyway!