The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: Hazelwood Flock on September 30, 2011, 09:40:52 pm

Title: Bolting leeks
Post by: Hazelwood Flock on September 30, 2011, 09:40:52 pm

We planted our leeks in july, and have looked after them dilligently but they are determined to run to flower. Any ideas why?

Title: Re: Bolting leeks
Post by: Blinkers on September 30, 2011, 10:12:09 pm

I read the title and had images of Leeks doing a runner.... ;D ;D ;D..... sorry, no help whatsoever  ;)

Title: Re: Bolting leeks
Post by: Hazelwood Flock on October 01, 2011, 09:11:47 pm

 ;D I hadn't looked at it like that!!!

Title: Re: Bolting leeks
Post by: little blue on October 01, 2011, 09:37:00 pm

Hazelwood - its the weather!
not alot you can do except a) pick them, small as they may be
                                          b) let them flower - they're lovely to look at  :)

Title: Re: Bolting leeks
Post by: Lesley Silvester on October 01, 2011, 10:30:04 pm

And flowering leeks attract loads of bees. :bee:

Title: Re: Bolting leeks
Post by: Hazelwood Flock on October 04, 2011, 10:12:29 pm

Some for us and some for the bees it is then! Thanks folks.  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Bolting leeks
Post by: Plantoid on October 04, 2011, 11:26:24 pm

If you have leeks to spare  try cutting out the flower stem on a couple of dozen or so .. I did this  about this time last year and still ended up with  useable leeks for stews and soups  over winter but I did have to remove the rest of the defunct stalk .
Some were good enough to use as braised leeks in gravy or white sauce .
 
Those leeks that we didnt  deflower  gave me some seeds around June this year .. they are now dried ( airing cupboard in a paper bag for a week ) and stored in some cold oven dried rice in an air tight  (small potted meat ) jar,  ready for an early start in January 2012.

Title: Re: Bolting leeks
Post by: Mel Rice on October 08, 2011, 10:45:06 pm

I left the heads on a couple of my last years leeks. The heads produced loads of little leeklets which ive now stuck in rows to overwinter and see what happens.

Title: Re: Bolting leeks
Post by: tizaala on October 09, 2011, 07:20:18 am

Pull , blanch, freeze.

Title: Re: Bolting leeks
Post by: Odin on October 12, 2011, 09:37:38 pm

This was the first year that I have ever had where leaks have failed. I have questioned the seed and the ground but got no answers (well I wouldn't). They were very thin, no bulk on them and just disappeared to the slug.

Title: Re: Bolting leeks
Post by: Blonde on October 16, 2011, 08:16:08 am

Quote from: Hazelwood Flock on September 30, 2011, 09:40:52 pm

We planted our leeks in july, and have looked after them dilligently but they are determined to run to flower. Any ideas why?

Generally it is light intensity.  Some shade cloth over the top will slow the flower stalks and encourage the leek to develop and grow further.  Lettuce's have the same problem.