Leek seedling advice

[jackarmy]

Si heres my leek seedlings, question is



Do they stay in here till pencil size or should I pot them on to give them mors space.

[Thelma Sanders]

I'd give them more space, or they will be very difficult to separate at planting time.

[bikermike]

I'd agree about separating them out a bit.

Is that a pot noodle tub?
going for pre-seasoned veg?

[Snoop Puss]

Just to put the cat among the pigeons... people here buy leeks as seedlings, they don't start them off from seed. Yours would be regarded as perfect for planting out now. Just saying... if you've got the space and the soil is nice and soft after rain to get them down a fair way.

[jackarmy]

Thanks all , cat deffo amongst the big birds lol, i read that its best to let them get to pencil thickness around here Snoop or have i got that mixed up with grape vines again, oh man

Yes Mike, curry flavoured leeks

[Snoop Puss]

^You're quite right: advice in the UK is to let them get to pencil thickness, but in my experience, there's no need. They grow perfectly well at the kind of size yours are. If you have room and time, give it a try with a few at least just to see. I'm guessing the availability of water and nutrients is more continuous in the ground. Plus, I find them easier to plant out when they're smaller, as the root system isn't quite as tangled.

I've just picked a leek of mine: it's 4 cm in diameter. That's acceptable for my purposes.

[Thelma Sanders]

Thing is I use leeks as a follow on crop after early potatoes, so mine have to stay in their container til then, and they are pencil thickness when they go in, I've no experience of planting them in their own bed this early in the year.

[rary]

I would agree with Snoop if they are hardened off and the soil is warm enough get them in the ground, and cover with fleece, if not start potting on into a richer medium and start heating your soil by covering with black poly or weed membrane which by the way you can plant through when ready, just by cutting Xs in it this can save a lot of weeding