Successional Leeks!

[Bigmallly]

Just another crazy thought. I get a bit tired of waiting 9 months or so to harvest Leeks so was wondering if I sowed half a dozen every couple of weeks if it would spread the harvest. I've had some in the ground since last October that are only just larger than pencil thickness. I plan to re-plant these & then start the 2 week sowings. Can you think of any Pro's or Cons?

Thanks in advance.

[veggiechicken]

Some varieties can be picked young as baby leeks or left to grow on to maturity.
I guess you don't want baby leeks though

[Bigmallly]

Yes I'd like standard Leeks all year round but would like to know why packets suggest stopping sowing around May.

[Nicos]

Good idea.
I have given up sowing my own and buy bunches of 100 barerooted pencil sized ones late spring and midsummer( what are called 'blue leaved, winter hardy' ones here)

I gave up because mine too never seem to get bigger than pencil sized either!

I thought there were 2 types...but apparently not...there are 3 varieties so this link gives you an idea...

All About Growing Leeks - Organic Gardening - MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Oh...and there is quite a bit here too!...

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organ...z06djzraw.aspx

[Snadger]

If you plant leek grass/pods/pips as well as seeds you can have leeks all year round. I have leeks now which were planted as grass in September/October last year. They could be eaten now as they are finger diameter but will be planted out when it warms up a bit I have other planted late October which are pencil thickness.. My normal leeks are still going strong at about thumb diameter in the ground and my leek seedlings recently sown are like needles!

[WendyC]

As VC suggested, I've grown the variety Nipper for baby leeks quite successfully. They seem to grow quite quickly too.

[Lisasbolt]

Maybe May because it is too warm i cannot buy any form of onions, leeks etc in the summer as it is far too hot for them. I do not see why you would need two weekly sowings as they sit in the ground very nicely, so you could do monthly instead. If spacing is a bit of an issue could you plant closer together and then take some out for baby leeks and hopefully leave some to grow on.

[Bren In Pots]

I love leek so I'd like the idea of all year round ones but a lot of the time mine don't grow very thick they're sill usable though i just need lots of them.

[Zelenina]

Here in Slovakia we have a variety of summer leek called Starozargorski kamuš that is sown at the normal time (Feb-Mar) but is ready for harvest from August to October. I seem to have bought an extra packet by mistake, so I can send you one if you like. Also our standard winter variety, Elefant, according to some suppliers, can be sown as late as June to give you leeks in the early spring. I think some UK suppliers have that one (yes Mr F has it). Then there's a Hungarian variety that's meant to be sown in August to provide leeks in June and July. I don't have any fresh seeds of that one and it's harder to get, but I might be able to find some before August if you want to try it. I wouldn't need a whole packet of them.

[Bigmallly]

Thanks for the replies. I don't have trouble growing them to "Normal" size, it's just that it takes so long. I wondered if sowings were not advised after May was due to the fact that they may bolt. I can't think of any other reason why I shouldn't sow at fortnightly/monthly intervals. I don't subscribe to this "Winter Veg" mentality, I'd like to be able to pick Leeks & Parsnips in July..................

[Bigmallly]

Thanks for your kind offer Zel, I have some fast maturing varieties so I may just have a bash at successional leeks..............and maybe Parsnips.............

[Zelenina]

Yeah! A bit of experimentation is the only way to find out. And it's more fun Actually, I've just seen that DT Brown has the Starozagorski Kamus summer leeks if anyone wants to try them. They say sow Feb-Mar, harvest Jul-Oct.

[KevinM67]

I don't subscribe to this "Winter Veg" mentality, I'd like to be able to pick Leeks & Parsnips in July..................

Another poor 'consumer' succumbed to the supermarket pretence that all fruit and veg types should be available all year round.

[Lisasbolt]

I totally agree with you BM, if you do not try you will never know. My Spanish friends have thought i am mad for growing sweet peppers and courgettes in the winter, well i still have a couple fresh courgettes in the fridge and they are buying expensive old scabby ones in the supermarkets. I still have fresh red pepper on the plants and i see them gazing
Maybe not great ones but i will be getting some new potatoes up the next couple of days

Maybe you could keep us up to date with your progress, i love looking at your different threads, maybe i am just noisy

[alldigging]

Good idea.
I have given up sowing my own and buy bunches of 100 barerooted pencil sized ones late spring and midsummer( what are called 'blue leaved, winter hardy' ones here)

The guy who goes to France always brings back leeks - he says they are really cheap.