Another leek question

[sallym]

My Leek seedlings are about 4cm high and are in a mini greenhouse. They seem to be doing fine, but I'm a little concerned that the container they are in is too shallow. Its 10cm tall. Can I leave them in this until they are ready to plant out, or should I pot them on into something deeper first?
Thanks in advance
Sal

[zazen999]

They will be fine. I'm sure others will come along and disagree but they will soon be in the ground so I'd leave them be for a few more weeks and put them straight into final position then.

[FionaH]

Far from me too disagree with Zazen, who is in fact my allium guru! But I got bored so transplanted mine up into cut down milk containers. No noticeable difference to the ones I left in modules though

[queen of the cobs]

if you feel the urge to pot on, however, do go with it! (It's my favourite part of the year)

[zazen999]

Far from me too disagree with Zazen, who is in fact my allium guru! But I got bored so transplanted mine up into cut down milk containers. No noticeable difference to the ones I left in modules though

Can I get that on a badge please!!!

[Paulottie]

I have been pricking out into trays the last couple of years...waste of time. I have found that sowing in 5" pots and leaving them gives just as good results...if not better.

Depth is not important. That is the blanching part...later.

They will be fine as zazen said but where I disagree with Fi's 'Allium Guru' is the setting out time...July...normally follow the early tatties. (unless you are entering a show or growing baby leeks in raised beds)).
... they should be about pencil thick by then. Root congestion is not important as many folk cut them off (and the leaves too to stop transpiration) So as to get them deep in the hole. No hurry... they are a winter veg and better eating if smaller.

[zazen999]

Perhaps I'm just not 'normal'

[phleeps]

I transplanted mine to peat pots last week from a seed tray and am wondering if i have done the right thing - some of the seedlings died off after I did this. Hopefully the rest should survive until I put them in permanently.

[Paulottie]

Perhaps I'm just not 'normal'

...Mmm there's every danger I'm not....possibly happier that way!

Regarding leeks I was surprised just how late the older allotmenteers set out the main crop. after experiment I found they do take better if left in nursery bed or well watered pot till a bit bigger.

I now tend to grow a few different sorts..a row for autumn and loads for winter.

[Paulottie]

I transplanted mine to peat pots last week from a seed tray and am wondering if i have done the right thing - some of the seedlings died off after I did this. Hopefully the rest should survive until I put them in permanently.

Peat pots not really necessary for planting you normally (Ohhpps) dibb them into a 6" deep hole made with a broken and sharpened fork handle.(hence many trim..roots soon resprout from basel plate) and just watered in ...allowing hole to refill natually.

top tip is to aim the leaves along the row at planting....so they don't flop in the path later

I use a trench method (like celery) for a truly long blanch. These were infact early ones (set out in June)

[FionaH]

Perhaps I'm just not 'normal'

Very likely, welcome to the club!
You know what, I have just decided I will plant my leeks out when I have room...........seems sensible to me

[zazen999]

I should do Fi. I usually just leave mine be and put a few in at a time when I have time/inclination/space. This means you get a longer harvest season.

This year, some of my autumn planted onion sets were put into a bed [in rows] on the top of peaks, and soon I will put the leeks in deep holes in the troughs, so that when the onions are harvested, the soil will move and bury the stem even more than if they were just in the holes.

Every little helps!