Blanching Leeks

[TrulyGreen]

I have lots of leeks and they are looking good. I read that I should blanch them (to have longer white stems) by putting on a collar and earthing up. Does anyone do this with their leeks or do you all just let them grow? Is it too soon to put collars on now? Your experience and any advice much appreciated Christine

[sewer rat]

I have lots of leeks and they are looking good. I read that I should blanch them (to have longer white stems) by putting on a collar and earthing up. Does anyone do this with their leeks or do you all just let them grow? Is it too soon to put collars on now? Your experience and any advice much appreciated Christine

You can blanch the stems to make them whiter as you say but you have to think if it is worth the effort. How deep did you dib your planting holes, as your leeks will be blanched to that depth anyway.
I grow literally thousands of leeks and it's not practical for me to earth up or apply collars, so I just dib deep holes for planting in.
When to aplly the collars or earth up depends on what variety (and therefore when you expect to harvest your leeks). My leeks will not be touched til hopefully February at the very very earliest.

[TrulyGreen]

Many thanks.....I dibbed them into 6" planting holes so that should be enough. I'm sure that 6" of white leek will meet all our needs