Leek seed germination.

[.commander]

Right, I am definitely making bigger holes this year!

[Kristen]

Also how deep is your "fishmonger's tray" ?

I reckon any container that allows about 3" - 4" of potting compost would be good

These are the roots on mine, when tipped out ready for separating and planting:

[KevinM67]

I've tried growing my leeks a bit differently this year.

I've used 3 round plastic chocolate tins (celebrations, heroes, etc.) with holes drilled in the bottom and the lids used as trays. The hope is that the extra depth might get them to pencil thickness before planting out.

Mainly filled them with last year's mpc, mixed with some growmore - and with a couple of centimetres of seed compost on top. I keep them on a cold south facing window sill.

After a couple of weeks, they have come up a treat.

A quick update on this post from a couple of months ago.

I managed to finally get my leeks to pencil thickness and planted out the first tub in the ground yesterday.

The difference was definitely down to the incresed depth of the tray/tub.

A big thank you to Kristen (wherever you are ) for such a simple but effective tip.

[Scoot]

Mine aren't pencil thickness yet but I shall let them grow in the tub where they are for another month and see what happens before planting out.

[Penellype]

I have some that were sown in February that are nearly pencil thickness but only about 6 of those have survived. The later sowings seem to have taken forever, probalby because of the continuing cold nights, and some of them are only just germinating having been sown at the end of March and again at the beginning of May.

[kathyd]

I've never had leeks reach pencil thickness before planting out! I put my still skinny ones in the ground a week or so ago and they seem to have perked up no end. Just as an aside, can anyone please explain to me why we don't backfill the planting holes? Does it hurt if you do so?

[Valleyman]

Mine are approaching pencil thickness at the moment. Pic attached.



Just awaiting another crop of of little gem before they get planted out into their final positions.

[veggiechicken]

I've just sown my leeks

[Ovce domácí]

Mine are approaching pencil thickness at the moment. Pic attached.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]56317[/ATTACH]

Just awaiting another crop of of little gem before they get planted out into their final positions.

Looks like elephant grass, they really are moving along. Mine have been sowed for a couple of months in trays, then potted out about 3 weeks ago. They have jumped up a bit in the pots but just look like chives at best. I think Ill have to put them out soon anyway even without being pencil thick.

[Valleyman]

Looks like elephant grass, they really are moving along. Mine have been sowed for a couple of months in trays, then potted out about 3 weeks ago. They have jumped up a bit in the pots but just look like chives at best. I think Ill have to put them out soon anyway even without being pencil thick.

I find the only way to get the pencil thick leeks is to plant them in pots that are about 6 inches in depth, or a cheap plastic trough like I did. Anything less and they seem to stall at "pencil lead" thickness until I plant out.

I can't say I notice a difference in the end result, but the pencil thick ones are just that little more robust and can be treated a bit more roughly when planting into their final position. I subsequently get fewer transplant victims, if only because pigeons have a harder job trampling over them.

[Ovce domácí]

I find the only way to get the pencil thick leeks is to plant them in pots that are about 6 inches in depth, or a cheap plastic trough like I did. Anything less and they seem to stall at "pencil lead" thickness until I plant out.

I can't say I notice a difference in the end result, but the pencil thick ones are just that little more robust and can be treated a bit more roughly when planting into their final position. I subsequently get fewer transplant victims, if only because pigeons have a harder job trampling over them.

Yeah basically skipping the seed tray stage and putting them straight into the pots. Ive got some parsley in a similar vessel to yours this year.

Ill see how they end up this year, then try half and half next year to compare how the leeks grow in different containers. Maybe this type is just a slow starter, its the Meziers long winter leek.

[Scoot]

What is the ideal depth of hole to put leeks into once they are ready to go into the garden. Mine will be going out soon so I was just wondering.

[Scoot]

Just put my leeks out this morning into dibber holes and then watered into the holes. Was just wondering, do they have to stand straight up because I just can't get mine to stand straight. Or will they straighten up themselves?

[Scoot]

Just checked my leeks there this morning and looked down on each of them sitting in their dibber holes and all I have to say is I'd love to know how the hell people don't get soil in the growing bit where the leaves come out of as nearly all of mine have. Anyone else have this problem?

Does it matter?

[Scoot]

Anyone lol?