New allotment and Leeks?

Hi fellow allotment holders.

Well I have recently aquired one and it's in danger of taking over my life!!

As we have dug we have planted so it is probably not laid out to it's best advantage but hopefully that will improve next year.

My question is on Leeks, the intruction said to backfill the hole with water and not soil which I have done, but what is supposed to happen now?

Seems quite strange to me but I am a complete novice with vegetables.

Any help much appreciated.

 

Stingo, when you water you are washing soil into the hole.:gnthb:

 

thank you guys xx

 

Stingo you could have also trimmed the roots and leaf tops a little but before you planted them.

I know it all sounds odd the 6" hole and not filling with soil but that's how it works with leeks. One newbie who just planted his leeks in what 'he' thought was the correct way just ended up with very sad looking Spring Onion 'wannabees' although his Spring Cabbage were a wonderful sight to be seen ....... as with all things gardening wise it swings and roundabouts! Hel.xxx.

 

Joy Larkcom's book says that Belgian research found that trimming Roots and Leaves lowers yield. I have read people say that without trimming their roots they would never get them down the hole ... and the leaves trail on the ground if not trimmed ... so in those circumstances may be worth doing. Like John I never bother (never having grown them large enough for them not to fit down the dibber hole!)

 

Next year Stingo try this technique when you plant your leeks, it'll save you quite a bit time spent weeding. I'm using weed supressing membrane in this photo, but I've also use plain black plastic sheet in the past. Works a treat!
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Dave one of our buddies used that matting with the holes for his onions and my goodness it did a fantastic job keeping his crop weed free, not really any good for us as we grow far too many onions and I like to weed round their bases with my fingers to loosen the soil to allow the bulbs room to swell...something one doesn't have to worry about with leeks! Hel.xxx.

 

No problems at all John. I also use membrane or perforated black plastic under my brassicas and membrane under my strawberries.
The perforated plastic is very cheap (tesco) and comes in a wider size than membrane and I've found that apart from keeping weeds down it also keeps the ground that bit moister which helps when the brassicas are young. If fact this year I planted my sprouts and then had to leave them for three weeks due to being away on holiday and despite the total lack of hand watering they were fine when we returned.

Helen - I know what you mean about onions. That's how I used to weed mine.
I can't grow them in the ground anymore due to white rot so this year I'm trying them in a fish box filled with bought compost and they are growing just fine.