Leek query

[piskieinboots]

Why do we top and tail leeks before planting them out?

[SarzWix]

The tailing is supposedly to stop the roots getting in a tangle when you put them into your dibbed holes - if the roots are really long, they can end up pointing upwards in the hole. Trimming the leaves is supposed to put less strain on the roots til they recover.

However. I read a trial a few years ago where they didn't bother and found not much difference in results, so I only trim mine if the roots are ridiculously long.

[Snadger]

The theory is that by cutting off a lot of root it makes them easier to put into the dibbled hole. Also most of the exposed roots die and the plant rorms new roots anyway from the basal plate.
The leaves are cut of to stop wind rock and transpiration until the new roots have developed.

Must admit that I never bother though and transplant them as is!

[Snadger]

And Sarz can type quicker than me!

[Liza]

I trimmed the roots on mine as they were all tangled up together.

[pipkins]

I have never trimmed mine so far and all has been good.

[womble]

This year I trimmed about half mine when planting and half not, about half were in a real tangle and over long, so they looked nicer.

(By trimming, I mean ripping the tops and roots off with my hands)

Absolutely no difference over the whole patch, although I wish I'd planted all the same ones together, so I could see which ones died from white rot, just to see if it made any difference (about 25% died)

[jackie j]

Well thats a new one on me, I have never heard of it before.

[piskieinboots]

Good 'ere isn't it

[hamsterhead]

Something else I've learned this year. Mind you, I did consider just trimming off the split ends and maybe using some hair straightners so that they would look much nicer and chic when planted out.

[Alison]

I know you're supposed to trim the roots but didn't know about the leaves. Can't say I bother doing either though - leeks will survive pretty much anything.

[chris]

I wasn't even aware that you were meant to

[annacruachan]

I knew you were meant to trim both ends, but in the scramble to get them planted out I just forgot. I have fatter leeks this year than ever before!

[gojiberry]

Don't think that it makes any difference either way. I am a trimmer, 1 because it is easier to get them into the dibbed hole and 2 they stand up better with the tops trimmed.

Ian

[piskieinboots]

.... I just forgot. I have fatter leeks this year than ever before!

Then I shall follow you