Leeks - the next generation

[zazen999]

In my quest to get people seed saving; here's a really easy thing to do.

If you are getting to the stage of having the last leeks in your garden...don't pull them up and compost [or even freeze] - dig them out and replant them in a corner of your patch [it could even be in a flower border] and leave them to flower.

the bees love them.

then, come autumn, the flowers will have turned to seeds and there should be little black seeds forming where the flowers were.

Just before the first frosts; or when the seeds start falling out - cut the whole heads off and put them in paper bags somewhere warm for the winter.

It's got to be somewhere warm as alliums need a conditioning period [a warm spell] to both finish maturing the seed and to prepare for germination next year.

Then, in the spring, take the bags out, shake and sow the seeds.

Any spare, give them to friends and enjoy the warmth when they tell you how they have had fabulous germination from them, much better than shop bought seeds.

And so the cycle continues.....

[ginger ninger]

Silly question, but can you do this with any of the Allium family?

[tamsin]

What do leek flowers look like? I've got some flowering PSB at the moment and it's really pretty covered in yellow flowers (who'd have guessed from the purple buds).

[zazen999]

Silly question, but can you do this with any of the Allium family?

Yup - to do this with onions you either leave them in all winter, or put them back in the ground in the spring and leave them to it.

What do leek flowers look like? I've got some flowering PSB at the moment and it's really pretty covered in yellow flowers (who'd have guessed from the purple buds).

They look like all alliums - round balls with loads of pink or purple flowers all round the outside. Think big chive flowers.

[FionaH]

Ooooh I have loads of chives flowering at the mo. Might give it a go. Thanks

[chris]

I did this with a shop bought onion - I posted on here about 2 years ago i think about it. It was a bet with my wife that it would grow, I'm doing it this year too to see what i get next year (again, a shop bought onion - hopefully it'll flower too).

[womble]

I'd be careful with shop bought onions, they can bring in white rot with them, growing them in a pot would be better I would have thought.

[chris]

Ya, I grew last years in an old milk bottle - doing the same this year!

[LolaLou]

Can you do it....dare I mention....with F1 seeds (I've sown onions and will soon do the leeks) and I think one or two varieties are F1.....shame on me!!!

[OllieMartin]

What do leek flowers look like? I've got some flowering PSB at the moment and it's really pretty covered in yellow flowers (who'd have guessed from the purple buds).

There's a good picture on this site (with which I have no affiliation )
Leek - WikiGardener Wiki

Ooooh I have loads of chives flowering at the mo. Might give it a go. Thanks

Yea, my chives have got more flower heads on them than they've got chives! Just as well you can eat allium flowers too

[zazen999]

Can you do it....dare I mention....with F1 seeds (I've sown onions and will soon do the leeks) and I think one or two varieties are F1.....shame on me!!!

I didn't mention F1s as alot of leeks aren't F1s.....I think Lyon F1 is one F1 variety.

However, I'd stick to non F1s for onions; unless you want to take a chance and see what occurs next year.

Of course, if they don't bulb up then you can always eat them as springs.

[zazen999]

Chives; as the seeds start showing, plant the whole head and you will quickly get a new bunch of chives growing.

[LolaLou]

Just checked, I have Sultan leeks, Marco F1 white onions and Red Pearl red onions - so am definitely going to leave one or two in for seed saving, I think its a great idea and it looks pretty too!

[Alison]

Not going to do this with the leeks I have left as I don't particularly want to save last years variety however fully intend to do this with my over wintering ones next year. Currently have some of last years Up to Date onions (which I grew from seed from HSL) sprouting from where I've replanted them to save for more seeds this summer. One of my plans for this year is to dig another couple of beds at the bottom of the plot which will be used mainly for seed saving as I'm a bit short of space at the moment.

[binley100]

God damn it I need more space ..............