Leeks

[zazen999]

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

But did you not plant them in the main bed because they were smaller seedlings in the first place?

[Florence Fennel]

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.

Did you do any thinning Jono? I hate thinning, but my hands are not that good at sewing thinly.

[Jono]

Did you do any thinning Jono? I hate thinning, but my hands are not that good at sewing thinly.

Yeah, I did. The other thing I tried was starting them in pots and then tipping the whole lot out, pull them apart and plant a few together. I then thinned them out later, this was easier to do.

(I'm not sure that makes sense!)

[Potstubsdustbins]

As you may have gathered I grow everything in pots so space is a premium.

I tend to over crowd most things, leeks are sown thickly, the thinings are used as salad onions and the rest are used when they are as thick as my thumb. No good for show but delicious.

As for carrots a mate sowed with a little to much enthusiasm in an 18" pot, come harvest time he was most surprised to have to use a trowel in the first instance to lever out a few carrots. The rest were stood shoulder to shoulder so to speak and looked just like any other carrots.

This year I grew spring cabbage for the first time the packet yielded 60 seeds and were started in 3" pots 1 seed per pot. Having only SWMBO and myself to consider come planting out they went into containers with just an inch between each plant. As they grew I picked out every other cabbage starting in late Oct. At first I needed two plants for a dinner but they were very tasty. I now have 10 plants nearing maturity so at one a week I will just clear the bed in time for my calabrese, they will be planted at 8 to the sq metre.

You will gather from the above I do not grow to show (not good enough) purely to eat.

Colin

[Florence Fennel]

Yeah, I did. The other thing I tried was starting them in pots and then tipping the whole lot out, pull them apart and plant a few together. I then thinned them out later, this was easier to do.

(I'm not sure that makes sense!)

It does make sense, though I wouldn't do the transplanting bit, I've done it before and it was a disaster. I'll have a go at not thinning them quite so much this year. BTW, my hands are perfectly adequate for sewing, it's the sowing that I have a problem with!

[Littlemouse]

I'm going to try this as I have only small beds and would like to optimise my leek production! I planted the last lot closer than 'recommended'.

[fruitylou]

I will definately be giving this ago, I am trying my carrots really close this year (undercover), I am thinking of all the other veg I am gonna squidge this year now hmm

[Peter Bluestar]

I'm definitely trying this method. I have a plot but it's not very big & I love leeks.

[Shadylane]

But did you not plant them in the main bed because they were smaller seedlings in the first place?

Hmm good point, it's highly possible.

[Ian_5]

Any chance you'd have photos of this style of growing Zazen (or others..) thinking about giving this a go this year.

thanks

ian

[zazen999]

Any chance you'd have photos of this style of growing Zazen (or others..) thinking about giving this a go this year.

thanks

ian

No - sorry. Imagine leeks - but closer together.

[MrsDaffy]

I have 3 decent sized raised beds but if I follow the spacing they tell me on the seed packets I can barely fit any thing in. I'm definitely going to try planting closer with my leeks, carrots etc. Wish I'd read this earlier as I planted out my onion sets this afternoon - could have planted A LOT closer!

[zazen999]

Onion sets are different - the closer they are put the smaller the bulb.

[Currysniffa]

Zaz if they are that close is it a pain when it comes to weeding?

[Two_Sheds]

Close planting usually reduces weed problems, because the weeds are in the shade and don't germinate so easily.

With alliums, there isn't much leaf cover though. I've been mulching my leeks this winter with wood ash, and it's really helped keep the weeds down.

In summer I use grass clippings, same result