Why are my leeks so thin?

[Nik]

This is the first year I have grown leeks, but mine are weedy little pencils compared to the strapping girth of others on my allotment. What have I done wrong? Even the ones in my garden, and the few in a container of compost on my patio are looking more like big spring onions than leeks.
I didn't manure the ground beforehand and I haven't watered them very much. I started them from seed in about April and planted them out in June. The answer to my woes down to one of these things I guess - but which one? What's the one thing I can do next year to ensure monster leekage?

[rustylady]

Have you planted them very close together?

[VirginVegGrower]

Are you weeding in between or are they getting crowded out? When did you plant them - later than the others?

[chris]

Are they in the shade? I had some in dappled/partial shade which were much, much thinner than the ones in full sun.

[endymion]

We're growing leeks for the first time in years too, they're not even vaguely enormous, about 3/4 inch diameter, which'll actually be big enough for us to use. They're in a new veg plot, recovered from lawn, that was double dug and fed with compost.

I didn't manure the ground beforehand and I haven't watered them very much. .... The answer to my woes down to one of these things I guess - but which one? What's the one thing I can do next year to ensure monster leekage?

I'd guess yours are probably both hungry and thirsty. You could try giving them a liquid feed and see what happens.

[Nik]

Not in the shade or particularly crowded. As for weeds, well I never was one for intensive weeding but they have never got overgrown. I'll try some liquid feed - I'll try anything, I love leek and potato soup and I've got sacks of potatos.

[northepaul]

Maybe its the soil then? Did you firm them in well?

[Thelma Sanders]

Mine are quite fat already, which is good because I've had to pull a few because of the Leek Moth
I just put some chicken pellets in the holes when they were dibbed in and they had another sprinkle of pellets about a fortnight ago. Seems to work

[Aberdeenplotter]

The answer is in your opening post. you say you didn't manure them and didn't water them mutch. Leeks are gross feeders and thrive on loads of fym and they need regular watering in the dry times. Now, I don't like to boast (I'm a liar, I'm a real show off) This is what you get if you treat them nicely

[Munch]

The answer is in your opening post. you say you didn't manure them and didn't water them mutch. Leeks are gross feeders and thrive on loads of fym and they need regular watering in the dry times. Now, I don't like to boast (I'm a liar, I'm a real show off) This is what you get if you treat them nicely [ATTACH=CONFIG]26093[/ATTACH]

Wow

Mine look like pencils too

[Helgalush]

Mine are pencils too

[Aberdeenplotter]

To be fair to those not growing leeks to show, these are bred for size and were started off last November with bottom heat and artificial light. But my original comment is really important. Leeks are gross feeders and thrive on loads of fym and that goes for leeks grown for the kitchen too. Having said that, my show leeks will end up in the kitchen or at least the bits that aren't put down to seed for next year will.

[hawthorns]

mine have been ravaged by leek moth again and they were covered with enviromesh

[zazen999]

But leeks are supposed to stand all winter; not be harvested in the late summer. There's plenty of time - I WANT mine thin and weedy now so that I have a hearty crop in the late winter and early spring when other crops aren't bunging up my kitchen as they are now.

[VirginVegGrower]

The answer is in your opening post. you say you didn't manure them and didn't water them mutch. Leeks are gross feeders and thrive on loads of fym and they need regular watering in the dry times. Now, I don't like to boast (I'm a liar, I'm a real show off) This is what you get if you treat them nicely [ATTACH=CONFIG]26093[/ATTACH]

If mine looked like that, I would show off
King of the Alliums up there in Aberdeen...