Sowing leeks

[sewer rat]

I understand that leeks need a long growing season and should be sown fairly early on. I'm planning on growing Musselburgh this year, and want some advice on sowing and treatment thereafter. I have cells, seed trays and small pots - which is best to sow in and roughly how long do they take to germinate? At what stage do I move them on and then again at what stage do I plant them out.
Cheers y'all

[nick the grief]

Hi Rat.

I sow mine in cells & move them up when the cell is well rooted ( but not pot bound) usually I go from 40's to 15's then into the ground. You should do OK with Musselburgh, it's a scottish one

[Lesley Jay]

When you plant them out make a hole in the ground about 6 inches deep and drop the leek in the hole making sure that the roots are under the leek and then fill the holes up with water not soil. The holes gradually fill up with soil and this way I find that I never get gritty leeks.

[nick the grief]

Because I use cell packs I put make a hole with a bulb planter LJ but I do the same a s you and water them in.

[Simon Kendrick]

Nick, I note that you love growing dahlias. I bought a load last year (you know where from....yup, wilkos!!!) and they were all a picture. Last October, I lifted them to store (cardboard box, paper and a little compost in a dry garage). These tubers I lifted were massive......how do I cut and seperate them?

Many thanks if you can help me.

[Simon Kendrick]

sorry Rat to pinch your thread...I'm new to this game

[nick the grief]

I'll post in the flower section Simon, I think this is a two cup of tea answer

[poultrychat]

sewer rat I grow my leeks the same as LJ and it works well, I was told to plant them when they are a pencils thickness and it seems to work well. I still have some autumn ones in the ground and all survived

[Green Great]

I grew mine in a bucket and left them in the greenhouse (non heated) and they germinated in 3 weeks.Musselborough we grew too, after that prick them out into cell trays and then when they are the thickness of any of your fingers you are really safe to plant.

[Nicos]

We sprinkle the seeds into 6" pots so they have plenty of depth for root growth( otherwise the roots interweave and are difficult to seperate)and transplant out when they are about 8" long and probably less than than 1/2cm in diameter.

[sewer rat]

Many thanks fellow grapes - between you, you have answered all my queries and a couple I didn't know I had !!

[JennieAtkinson]

I did Musselburgh last year and had good success in the polytunnel - we are still eating them. Unfortunately the ones outside have not survived the winter - mainly got crushed by the deep snow. I started them off in deep pots and watered them in as Lesley suggested.

They have been a good crop and hoping to do the same this year.