Leek Problem

[onionbagger]

Hi, the leaves on my leeks are being shredded, any ideas what it is and how do I combat it?

Regards

[Two_Sheds]

depending on where you live, either Allium Leaf Miner or Leek Moth. Use your search button to find old posts on these beasties

[JimmerG]

onionbagger -

Mine have all been murdered aswell - and I was feeling SO smug about them too!

Little Leek moth grubs buried their way into them leaving a network of burrows and powered' leek behind them. The outer leaves have all died. But if you strip off the dead leaves, there's actually quite a lot of leek left, particularly towerds the bottom of the stem.

All is not quite lost.

J

[hawthorns]

sounds like leek moth. i lost all mine thanks to this little git

[marathon]

yep leek moth, every plot on our site has been attacked. As JimmerG said if you stip off the out leaves and tidy them up you are still left with a crop. Chicken,ham and leek pie for tea tonight and a batch of leek and potato soupon the stove as I type

[Two_Sheds]

Slice the leek off at soil level, and compost the tatty bits (maggots included). The leek will regrow so you can have your dinner another day

[marathon]

Slice the leek off at soil level, and compost the tatty bits (maggots included). The leek will regrow so you can have your dinner another day

Does that really work as I might do that with half my crop as I have over 200 of them and a bed of just over 150 have been attacked.

Do I slice them off at ground level? and would it be helpful to cover them?

[Two_Sheds]

Does that really work ...?

Yes.
I do it when I harvest my leeks too - cut them off instead of pulling them up. The leaves regrow

[marathon]

Yes.
I do it when I harvest my leeks too - cut them off instead of pulling them up. The leaves regrow

Many thanks I'll cut the tops of some of them this afternoon

[onionbagger]

Slice the leek off at soil level, and compost the tatty bits (maggots included). The leek will regrow so you can have your dinner another day

thanks Twosheds, I have done that to the affected ones, some seem to be ok, very resilient is the leek, I was over-zealous in my weeding earlier in the year and pulled a leek up minus the roots, I replanted it and now it's the biggest of the bunch in the plot.

[Two_Sheds]

I... pulled a leek up ...replanted it and now it's the biggest of the bunch in the plot.

I think that's a thing about alliums: they respond well to being moved. Pigletwillie and Zazen taught me that

[onionbagger]

Thanks for the tip Twosheds, I was sceptical but it actually works, many thanks.

[raisedbed]

Hi all, interesting messages these I live in Lincolnshire and have had no problam with the nasties this season, but as an experiment will try what you all say about cutting them at ground level, I will do one or two.
Thanks a mill...n
bye all
from Lincs

[raisedbed]

Hi me again, I have problams with MARES TAIL on the plot I do my best to keep it down, is there any way to kill it they say it grows up to 8ft or more deep, what I have been doing is pulling straight out upwards to get a good lump out or rotivating it in as it seems to die off by going black. please any suggestions.

[raisedbed]

And yes me again. I am retired and live in Lincolnshire, I am Chairman of the Stickney and District Gardening Club here in Stickney, we meet once a month in the Village Hall and have speakers coming along to give us talks on all aspects of gardening ect, does anyone know of any speakers within a radius of about 15 mls from here who could come and give talks. thanks a bunch