Leeks

[zazen999]

I just thought I'd post an update on my trial method of growing leeks.

Last year, I visited an Amish community, and their methods of growing leeks [and other crops] were to grow in groups of 8 long beds [no sides, just rotavated and mulched] - half a field long!

They were harvesting leeks when I visited, and the way they grew them was not all dibbed in neatly - it was basically 'all in' with the leeks so close that they would push themselves apart. The crop was harvested by digging up a chunk at a time, as they have hundreds of people to feed in one serving.....

So, last year, I put a bed aside and basically - dug out a trench and when I put the leeks in, I put them in and then backfilled the trench as I went. None of this dibbing in, although to get the leeks as deep as possible I did pull the roots off after about 3mm.

I harvested a shovel full today and
Yes - they did all grow to a good size [even though I was late sowing them last year]
Yes, they were much easier to harvest as I just started at one end and I'll work through the trench over the next few weeks
Yes - they were good - really crisp when sliced and the same great taste as usual.

These were from my home saved seeds, so it made it extra special

I have still got my neatly placed out leeks to harvest but might do a side by side trial this year and try to get [for example] 10 times the amount in the same space and see the difference next year - but I was surprised as the leeks in the middle of the trench were actually bigger than the ones on the outside, perhaps the shelter from the ones to each side ups the temp a bit or they like the challenge? Who knows!

[arpoet]

I like the sound of this idea for leeks..
I had a market garden who supplied me with onions when i was buying and selling veg some years ago and he grew 4 onions in 2 inch cubes of compacted potting compost and they pushed each other outwards as they grew. I think i may try this as well as the leeks..
many thanks
Roger

[Sylvan]

I seem to have a lot of onion and leek seeds and not much space this year so it's got to be worth a try.

[zazen999]

I often pick up a bag of eating onions from the local farm shop, and you can see where they are nearly square as they have been grown so close.

[smallblueplanet]

Tried a similar thing last year with onions, and although the plants grow pushing each other apart the closeness of the stems and the dampness of the weather meant they were much more liable to rust-type problems.

[Sylvan]

I often pick up a bag of eating onions from the local farm shop, and you can see where they are nearly square as they have been grown so close.

that must make them easier to slice...

[Aberdeenplotter]

I like to see a bit of definition in my veg plot and leeks planted singly contrasted against the black earth does it for me. I may change my mind if I ever have a multitude to feed.

[zazen999]

I like to see a bit of definition in my veg plot and leeks planted singly contrasted against the black earth does it for me. I may change my mind if I ever have a multitude to feed.

Not everyone has an allotment

[Aberdeenplotter]

Not everyone has an allotment

I didn't mean an allotment, I should perhaps have been more precise and said my leek bed

[chris]

How odd -0 I was thinking about your original post about this zazen, last night I wonder why we do stuff in straight drills,etc? - this year was my first proper year growing from seed and I crammed a lot more in that I should have. Some worked, some didn't - some would have been better sapced further out (sweet corn for example, 7.5 inches gave 1, sometimes two cobs per plant - smaller cobs would have been better if planted further apart).. so I guess stuff like aliums you can get away with.

Kale worked quite well too mind. Radishes were good, salad stuffs (obv), erm what else - oh yes beetroot worked suprising well, just pushign each other apart. I actually found two golden beet yesterday that I'd missed. Going to leave them in there to see if they'll set seed this year

[Aberdeenplotter]

How odd -0 I was thinking about your original post about this zazen, last night I wonder why we do stuff in straight drills,etc? - this year was my first proper year growing from seed and I crammed a lot more in that I should have. Some worked, some didn't

Chris, I know a commercial carrot grower. I was very surprised to learn from him that carrots that are sown thickly germinate faster and are stronger than carrots that are sown thinly. maybe a survival of the fittest thing.

The other thing that is worthy of mention and I'm sure we've all seen this is the situation where we carefully cultivate our plots and place our plants in nice straight lines and struggle to get decent crop, but the guys who come in, roll up their sleeves, dig the plot over and just shooch(means shove) everything in without any care or order and get great crops. No justice.

[Herbie]

After the rubbish year I had with leeks last year, Im willing to give this method ago, would work nicely with the cage Im planning to build to stop them getting munched.

[Shadylane]

Not totally convinced of this - it sounds great and it obviously works for some but last year I had a few leeks which were left over and couldn't fit in to the leek bed, so I bunged em all in together in a spot elsewhere with the intention of harvesting them as baby leeks or using them as spring onions. I never did and they're still they're not much bigger than baby leeks

[Florence Fennel]

I'm giving this a go, thanks Zazen.

[Jono]

Chris, I know a commercial carrot grower. I was very surprised to learn from him that carrots that are sown thickly germinate faster and are stronger than carrots that are sown thinly. maybe a survival of the fittest thing.

This is interesting. I've never had great carrot germination, so last year I sowed thickly, thinking that the more I sow, the better the chance of some carrots.

I had really big, strong carrots last year for the first time. A one off maybe, but makes sense to me.