Leek sowing question

[Saraheliz]

Hi

I just realised I want to grow Leeks! are there any late varieties I can sow now or am I too late now

thanks!
Sarah

[kiwirach]

dont know enough to answer your question with any authority....i believe its to late to sow any seed....altho i did a few weeks ago and they are popping through the soil now.
what may be the answer is to see if you can pick up some plug plants from a garden center and then transplant them....i planted some i brought as plugs later in the season last year and while they weren't very thick(partly due to how i didnt plant them properly!), they were very edible!!!.

[Two_Sheds]

Leeks are sown around April and transplanted in about July. You should be able to pick some seedlings up in garden centres etc.

[zazen999]

You can sow anything at any time, whether you'll get the best crop is another matter

I have just sowed a load more leeks, they won't be as big as the ones I sowed months ago but I'll get baby ones over the winter and into the spring.

[rustylady]

Too late by the books, but give it a go - after all baby leeks can be used as spring onions

[Snadger]

The showmen usually sow their leeks in December for the leek shows the following September.

[lainey lou]

I got some seedlings from flea-bay last year at about this time, they were lovely!

[womble]

I thought I'd update people with the results of my sowing some last year in September, I planted them out early in the spring and they did go to seed, most of them anyway. They also haven't grown very well. Doesn't exactly fit in with this thread I know, but it sort of does.

You could sow them now, but they aren't going to get very big. Give them every chance, sow the seed well apart and transplant as soon as you can.

[Paulottie]

No point in sowing leeks after Solstice. Just as Womble described they don't put on any size before bolting in Sprng. Best suggestion was to see if you can find any seedlings for sale in pots ... or find another plotholder with spares. I usually have twice as many as I need to set out and give spares to newbies on site.

[Saraheliz]

thank you, bought some from ebay! and they are great although some have disappeared!

thanks

[annacruachan]

No point in sowing leeks after Solstice. Just as Womble described they don't put on any size before bolting in Sprng.

My leeks were sown well before the solstice and are now in fishboxes, but they are no larger than an asparagus stalk. Will they really put on no further growth?
If so I shall be using four leeks to every one in the recipe. Still, I have got 86 of them so maybe it won't be too bad.

[Paulottie]

No, They'll keep growing over winter till spring once they are established. They sound fine... Set them out now.(asparagus thicker than my thumb here? pencil thick usual guide) Hardy things leeks.

However with leeks, for kitchen use, the expression: 'small ones are more juicy' is especially true

[teamladd]

After speaking to my dad over the weekend, he said to sow carrots, leeks, cabbage and broad beans now, he used to and said he had great success. Im just going to try it and see what happens. If nothing grows then I wont loose anything! This is my first year with an allotment so its trial and error for me!

[COMPOST CORNER]

After speaking to my dad over the weekend, he said to sow carrots, leeks, cabbage and broad beans now, he used to and said he had great success. Im just going to try it and see what happens. If nothing grows then I wont loose anything! This is my first year with an allotment so its trial and error for me!

That's the way! Give it a go and see what happens.
It's all trial and error, just some have done more trials.

[Paulottie]

Nothing to lose except the time and seed - depends how you value those.

Cabbage, spinach, carrots, maybe... bit later for broad beans... and don't bother with the leeks.....in my humble opinion.