[suziequeue]

Ok - I confess - I have planted a load of leek seeds and I have no idea what to do next.


The problem is that I think I must have spilt the packet of seeds so I've got loads of little leeklets all sprouting out of one area.


Should I separate them and pot them on or what??


 

[MikeM]

just gently tease all the leeks apart and plant out.

[suziequeue]

Do you mean plant out into separate pots Mike or plant outdoors??


Clueless 

[sabrina]

If they are a few inches high just plant outside.

[Clarebelle]

I planted out my one leek (i've named him Mike) last week and he is doing ok, I put a homemade cloche over him (a juice bottle cut in half) but it blew off but he doesnt seem any worse for wear.

Mike was a bit bigger than your little guys though, if spring has really sprung where you are I would be tempted to plant them outdoors. But I'm sure someone more experienced will have a better clue! 

[doganjo]

Ok here's an idea - Suziequeue has LOADS of baby leeks; Clarabelle has ONE - maybe S could post some to C?  I posted a few of my Bilbergia's to DarkBrownEggs last week and they arrived in prefect health.    Just wrap the roots in wet kitchen towel, then in cling film or a placcy bag, then another one or even two, then in brown paper.  Post early in the week though or they might lie around.

This could work for all of TAS

[MikeM]

yup, what sabrina said. Leeks are tough old things, the only time I've ever had em fail is when the cat decided to roll around on them 
 
I take it you know how to plant them out?

[suziequeue]

 


Broom handle, hole, water in, don't earth up?

[MikeM]

that's it. You said you were clueless, but you're leeks are much further advanced than me, you don't look that clueless to me.

[suziequeue]

  thanks Mike 


We've got heavy clay soil here so I am concerned that making a hole with the broom handle will compact the soil too much and and prevent the roots from spreading out.


I'm half inclined to drill the holes with an electric drill and a half inch hole boring auger...... or is that being TOOOOOO ridiculous??? 

yes - I think that's a bit extreme actually[size=78%] [/size] [size=78%] [/size]

[HappyHippy]

I'm not much of a grower, so this might be a daft suggestion (or not, considering the alternative drilling method  ) you could take out a small trench (maybe only 3 inches wide and 4 or 5 inches deep) and fill it with softer soil/compost - plant the leeks in it and by the time their roots get to the clay soil they might be better established and stronger to penetrate it ? Maybe ? 
Karen 

[Fleecewife]

I wouldn't plant them out yet in their final positions.  You want them to be tall enough to just poke out of the holes you make - the deeper these are the longer the white bit of leek will be - and they need to be sturdy. Usually that means June for the broomhandle, or HH's idea, which is a good one  .  You could meanwhile pot them into the extra long rootrainers, or you could prick them out into a nursery bed until they are bigger.
 
I see I'm the only dissenting voice 

[doganjo]

I wouldn't plant them out yet in their final positions.  You want them to be tall enough to just poke out of the holes you make - the deeper these are the longer the white bit of leek will be - and they need to be sturdy. Usually that means June for the broomhandle, or HH's idea, which is a good one  .  You could meanwhile pot them into the extra long rootrainers, or you could prick them out into a nursery bed until they are bigger.
 
I see I'm the only dissenting voice 

No, I'm with you    I'd put them in something that can be planted straight in the ground so they aren't disturbed a second time

[Lesley Silvester]

You can buy pots for long rooted plants where you put the whole thing int he ground and the pot rots away.  Personally, I save toilet roll tubes all winter and plant in those.

[Clarebelle]

I planted out my one leek (i've named him Mike) last week and he is doing ok, I put a homemade cloche over him (a juice bottle cut in half) but it blew off but he doesnt seem any worse for wear.

Mike was a bit bigger than your little guys though, if spring has really sprung where you are I would be tempted to plant them outdoors. But I'm sure someone more experienced will have a better clue! 

Poor Mike turned out to be grass! There must have been a stray grass seed in my old bag of compost. Now I have no leeks but at least I wont have to go through the trauma of eating Mike, my rabbits can eat him instead!