Leeks at this time of year?

[mrbadexample]

I was round my mate's yesterday, and his neighbour handed a couple of fully-grown leeks over the fence to him. He had been given them himself, so when I asked what he was doing with proper leeks at this time of year, he couldn't tell me.

I also saw a load of massive leeks at the Malvern Show.

So why have I got things that resemble spring onions? Well, they would resemble them if they were bigger, anyway.

Last year I managed to grow some small leeks that I harvested early this year. They were lovely. This year I'll be lucky to get 10.

So how do I grow leeks to be ready to eat at this time of year, and throughout the winter? Should I be sowing them now?

Cheers,
MBE

[Thelma Sanders]

You can buyseeds for leeks that are ready for Autumn harvest, it's all down to variety

[alldigging]

Some of mine are massive and have been eaten already - the rest aren't quite big enough yet ...
Len's leeks are much bigger than mine though - I assume he's grown a different type.

I'll ask him if he knows what he's growing and have a look in the seed box (I think I grew a giant one and jolant)


Also looking at them now I'm worried 70 leeks wasn't enough.
I really like leeks!

[Farmer_Gyles]

So why have I got things that resemble spring onions? Well, they would resemble them if they were bigger, anyway.

don't worry, you're not alone .....

for me, limited space means growing some things in summer and others in winter .... so i have a potato bed for the summer, and when the spuds come up, i plant out the leeks .... that means they're small at this time of year ....

i started my leeks as a scattering of seeds in a few large pots .... they won't grow big while they're crowded .... i thinned them out into larger pots a couple of months ago and they put on a lot of growth ....

i dug up the spuds over the weekend and planted out some leeks .... plenty more to do .... if we'd had better weather this year, the spuds would probably have been dug up a lot earlier .... i'm expecting fairly small leeks now ....

[Samurailord]

I have 15 leeks that were put in together in the middle of June.

A couple of them are getting quite large, and I am thinking about harvesting them in a few weeks.

Most of their neighbors, however, are still at the spring-onion stage.

I don't know how this has happened - anyone got any ideas?

Andy

[Dead Dogs]

I have 15 leeks that were put in together in the middle of June.

A couple of them are getting quite large, and I am thinking about harvesting them in a few weeks.

Most of their neighbors, however, are still at the spring-onion stage.

I don't know how this has happened - anyone got any ideas?

Andy

Could be several reasonds why.

I have two batches, sown about 4 weeks apart, Jan - Feb time. Frist batch started off in modules and then potted on into 4 inch pots. The second batch was sown in 1 pot before being thinned and potted on. Both started life in the greenhouse before moving to the polytunnel.

I had intended to have one batch in the ploy and the other outside. The first batch went into the ground in the poly OK, but the second batch stayed in the pots waiting for time and will power to coincide. Eventually this second batch also got planted in th ploy.

There is significant difference between the two batches. Also, there is significant difference between those plants towards the centre of the ploy and those close to the side.

Therefore, I conclude that Time, watering and warmth all make a difference to the size of a plant.

[TallGirl]

Mine are all chunky spring onions too. I thought they'd been overcrowded in their pots and stayed in the pots too long, maybe - will make sure they go in earlier next year.

[VirginVegGrower]

I have pulled some already, others are still fattening. All down to variety I think.

[areia]

alot of mine have rust spot on them

[Vince G]

I got 100 leek seedlings from GYO, at least I think it was one of their offers, can't remember to be honest. I understand that the spacing of the seedlings has a bearing on how thick they get. If you plant them closer they don't get as thick, but seem to get taller. We harvested some yesterday - they're only about an inch in diameter but are 2 feet tall from roots to leaf tips. We have so many of them that we decided to start on them now as we would still have enough to see us through the winter. Very tasty they are too.

[mrbadexample]

Thanks all. Can anyone recommend a variety that is ready early please?

[VirginVegGrower]

If Mr VVG had not mixed up mine when pulling them from the seed bed I would have a better bl@@dy idea! But I have grown Bleu de Solaise, Monstruoso de Carentan and Jaune de Poitou. I was having a French moment! Taste darned nice

[Snadger]

There are loads of variables for giving you size of leek and also when they mature. Show leeks grown for September shows are traditionally sown on New Years Day with heat and gradually aclimatised and planted out in early June.
Leeks grown from grass or pips (Cloned) can be started off in October the previous year giving them almost a full year of growth before the shows.
Just starting any old leek seed in January should give decent leeks about now and lasting through until the spring.

[Alison]

My leeks are usually rather pathetic and I struggle to get any of a decent thickness regardless of what variety / spacing I use. Still taste nice but rarely more than an inch across. This year they are terrible, not much more than pencil thickness now to be honest so am not expecting any crop.

[zazen999]

It's only October - still got 5-6 months of growing to do.