Leeks bolted

[jacob]

This is a mystery to me. It's been a pretty rubbish summer, but I'd have thought a good one for leeks. But some of mine have bolted, with others looking to go the same way. This has never happened before. Any advice, thoughts?

Maybe it's been too good a summer for them?

[VolesAteMyPeas]

Mine did too. I think it was the weather. They thought they'd been through winter after the spring cold snap, panicked and set seed. Lost about a hundred. I've left them in though as the flowers look great!

[KirstieSparkle]

ooooh ive never seen a leek flower before!
pictures!
and how odd i ruin most things i try and grow. mine have just been a bit small as left them in small pots too long

[Aberdeenplotter]

Leeks like most alliums will bolt if stressed although they may not throw a flower head until several months after the event. Stress can be caused by drought or extremes of heat or cold. Many of the country's best vegetable exhibitors lost their leeks due to bolting so you are in pretty good company.

p.s. Only one of mine bolted which is fairly unusual. If one goes, they usually all go

[Scoot]

My leeks are fine but my sprouts and swedes all bolted. I gave up on the sprouts and the swedes that are in now look like they have all bolted. It's so annoying.

[jacob]

I still can't figure out what it was that so stressful, but if it wasn't just me...

I reckon I've lost about half. The strong half at that. They made a couple of small bowlfuls of soup.

[KirstieSparkle]

Ooooh my spring planted brocolli and brussles both bolted, I though I just messed up timings but I guess must be a genuinely rubbish year

[Aberdeenplotter]

I still can't figure out what it was that so stressful, but if it wasn't just me...

I reckon I've lost about half. The strong half at that. They made a couple of small bowlfuls of soup.

Jacob, it could have been the cold nights in may/June followed by mild days followed again by cold nights. Possibly a dry spell, possibly a really hot day if you started them under glass or in a tunnel. The problem is it can be may months before they bolt so it is difficult to tie up what has gone wrong. Last year, I lost every single one of my exhibition leeks, pot and blanch. I think it was due to cooking them in the greenhouse on a sunny day but it could have been that the ground in my tunnel became really hot. I normally cover the ground with black and white polythene. Black side down to keep the weeds down, white side up to reflect the sunlight and keep the soil cool. I didn't use polythene at all last year.

[BUFFS]

my leeks are still the thickness of pencils, over 4 months after being transplanted, but no sun = no growth so we shouldn't be surprised...

[Martin H]

Just shows the regional differences, Buffs. I put my pencil thick ones out on July 5th and they are now nearly broomhandle thickness.

[KirstieSparkle]

Yeah mine are still pencily and spindly aswell

[Scoot]

My leeks are about the thickness of 2 bamboo canes. How long/late into the year do they keep getting fatter for?

[bario1]

Mine are the thickness of paintbrush handles.

[Scarlet]

Mine got flattened by deer rolled over all my spuds too!

[KevinM67]

I was a cocky tadger a couple of months ago about my leeks, they were doing great up to the middle of August.

Spending a few weeks visiting family in Ireland and Scotland - almost all have bolted when I returned.

Gutted.