Leeks

[Greenleaves]

Hi all

do I really need to trim leeks before planting out, if so whats the benefit?

The variety is Musselburgh

[Bren In Pots]

I trim the roots on mine because it makes them easier to drop into the holes.

[Greenleaves]

Cheers Bren

[Penellype]

I don't bother, I just stuff them into the holes. But my leeks are only small, which I always assume is because I plant them about 3 inches apart... Might be because I don't trim them though, you never know!

[chilli_grower]

I didn't trim mine, I planted them out around a week or so ago....

so far so good....

[captainhastings]

I planted two blocks last year one trimmed top and bottom and the other not trimmed. The untrimmed did far better so I won't be trimming again

[Snadger]

Some do, some don't.

Trimming roots is so they easily fit in the hole. Trimming leaves is supposed to stop evapotrarnspiration.

I plant mine au natural without trimming.

[DannyRam]

I don't trim them. After placing them in the hole, the act of filling the hole with water appears to send the roots to the bottom

[meteor]

Like captainhastings I too planted trimmed (top and bottom) and untrimmed. The untrimmed ones were vastly superior. Trimming was something I was taught to do by my father and saw Mr Smith on TV do likewise(anyone remember his great gardening series). I never knew the reasoning behind it though.

[Greenleaves]

Thanks all, so far the untrimmed have it

[johnjohn]

Some do, some don't.

Trimming roots is so they easily fit in the hole. Trimming leaves is supposed to stop evapotrarnspiration.

I plant mine au natural without trimming.

Fantastic! just casually throwing the word evapotranspiration into a reply is genius (I had to look it up), nice one Snadger!

[KevinM67]

Deviating from the OP - is it too late now to start any from seed (even indoors)??

[darcyvuqua]

Deviating from the OP - is it too late now to start any from seed (even indoors)??

I just sowed some last week they may not get as big as early sown ones but I reckon it will still profuse a harvest were only just out of April

[Bill HH]

Deviating from the OP - is it too late now to start any from seed (even indoors)??

The thing about leeks is they are frost hardy so you can still be harvesting them next year bearing that in mind a month late at this end wont make a lot of difference at t'other end.

[KevinM67]

The thing about leeks is they are frost hardy so you can still be harvesting them next year bearing that in mind a month late at this end wont make a lot of difference at t'other end.

Thanks for this (and Darcy above)

I was just wondering if they would be established enough before the winter months kick in??