Early Leeks

Hi All

Just been to wilkos and picked up some Musselburgh seeds the packet says sow indoors Jan/Feb any ideas on speeding up the process to get some early leeks next year??

Thanks

Dave

 

"any ideas on speeding up the process to get some early leeks next year"

Personally I think of Leeks as a winter-season crop, and wouldn't want them in the middle of Summer!

For Early varieties you are looking at about 30 weeks-to-harvest, so generally speaking September is the earliest harvest time, and Nov-Mar the "main cropping period"

 

Dave - For two years I tried starting Musselburgh leeks early but found they tended to bolt and they also developed rust. This year I changed tactics and seed and sowed (on 13th April) 'Porvite' an early leek and 'Bandit' a late leek both of which are rust resistant. We started pulling 'Porvite' in September and it looks like the late crop will keep us going well into spring. No sign of rust or bolting.

 

Hi folks. I used Musselburgh also this year (can't remember when I sowed them), but they developed rust and didn't really get to any decent size. Does the timing of sowing make a difference ? Cheers...freddy.

 

To be honest I'm not sure Freddy, but mine, Musselburgh, developed rust in 2007 and 2006 and to a lesser extent in 2005 and they were sown earlier than I'd sown in previous years. I suspect that the longer they are growing the worse the rust becomes. This year I've no rust at all - though this could be largely due to moving to rust resistant varieties.

 

Hi Dave. Interesting, something to ponder on next year. Cheers...freddy.

 

Did you see how they dealt with the rust on gardeners world tonight? A smear of vaseline to stop the spores spreading - so if you see any that's apparently what to do. I'm going to try your two plants this next year Dave - so it'll be interesting to see how I get on.

Thanks

Brian

 

Hi All

Thanks for all the replies, what happens to the plant when affected by rust are they still edible?

Brian

No I did not see the programme, so do you smear vaseline over the rust on the leaves?

Dave

 

Yes - just where you see the little yellow rust signs

 

Perfectly edible. Just peel off the rusted leaves - there will be plently leek left to eat!

Rust will slow growth very slightly and spoil some of the upper/outer growth but otherwise your leeks will be fine to eat.