Leek question.

[Kirk]

When do leeks start bulking up and putting on weight?

My veg area is small and every onion grew, so I have 4 rows of them with not a gap in sight. The leeks I sowed indoor have also germinated well, I have 2 rows of them and spare. I have no other really "spare" ground as what I have is sort of allocated to others items. Cauli's and a few other root veg, tomato's and peppers. Should have built that other raised bed.

I was thinking that onions are harvested well before leeks, so if the leeks started to bulk up later could I now plant leeks bewteen the onion rows, staggered. Thought being leeks establish, onions grow, onions bulk up and get harvested while the leeks are not doing too much, then the leeks bulk up after the onions are lifted.

[sowitgrowit]

I was thinking that onions are harvested well before leeks, so if the leeks started to bulk up later could I now plant leeks bewteen the onion rows, staggered. Thought being leeks establish, onions grow, onions bulk up and get harvested while the leeks are not doing too much, then the leeks bulk up after the onions are lifted.

I was planning to do this - either the onions (overwintered) would be out, replaced by leeks, or if the leeks *needed* to be planted out I would put them in between my onions, and by the time they are bigger the onions would have been harvested.

I hope it's a good plan (eep!) as I don't have space for the leeks otherwise.

All this is hypothetical, of course, as my leeks are looking very pathetic at the moment. I think the fabled "pencil thickness" is a very long way off :'(

[rustylady]

Usual date for planting leeks out is around the end of June. They are often planted where early potatoes have been lifted.

That's me scuppered this year - my earlies are only just showing above ground.

[MarkHackwell]

Usual date for planting leeks out is around the end of June. They are often planted where early potatoes have been lifted.

That's me scuppered this year - my earlies are only just showing above ground.

I usually plant my leeks out where my first early potatoes are too but my earlies are unfortunately way behind this year :/ and unlike 'Rustylady' mine arent even above the ground yet soo they will be really late this year.

[kathyd]

Can you grow leeks in deep pots if you get desperate? Or is that a silly idea?

[zazen999]

You can grow leeks where you want.

[horticultural_hobbit]

At the moment, mine have taken on the appearance of Chives-they are leeks, honest. Will mine on daily to get a wiggle on. Have heard that they go out late june and when they are pencil thin. Mine need to get themselves into a postive frame of mind or something. No good shouting at them. They are lyon prizewinner 2, a freebie with the mag. Musselburg failed to germinate for me this year.

[Snadger]

If you haven't got available space for your leeks just plant the clump of seedlings somewhere on the plot, keeep them well watered and plant them out when you HAVE got space. They won't grow much until you plant them out but will romp away once you do.
In answer to an earlier question about growing in a large pot, yes you can. One of our show leek growers did just that and planted his leeks in hesian bags. Poor bugger was disqualified from the show, even though his leeks were enormous. The powers that be contended that the leeks were 'portable' so wouldn't stamp them.

[Irish-Veg]

Im glad i saw this thread its my first year with leaks and although they are, well look, healthy they arent growing at an alaming rate, Ive been waiting for them to become "pencil thick" they must be around 15cm high though now, i had them in a seed tray and then thinned them, out about 6/8 into a 6 10cm pots and the other half are in the original seedtray, Im thinking of planting them out within 3 weeks but i want to give something to boost them like a seeweed liquid, would it be ok to feed them now and then again when planting them out say 1/2 water/1/2 liquid into their final planting hole?
I think Ill keep about 10 and put them in spare growbag I have just to see what happens like