leeks

Hi, I have some nice leeks in the garden but i am not sure when to harvest them, I know you should not let them bulb out like onions but you cant see the bottoms like onions. Some are about 25mm thick in the stem, not ready yet but could be soon. I wonder?

I am also a bit confused about the right time to grow them, I have read that people start them from seed in January, others transplant out in July when they are the size of a pencil lead, I know you can leave them in the ground till the first frosts. All a bit confusing I Think.

 

If it looks good, eat it.

 

The great thing about Leeks, is that they will quite happily just sit there until you want them. They are very hardy, so make a good winter vegetable. You want them? Then take themHaving said that, I would probably wait a bit, to allow them to bulk up a bit:WINK1:

 

When were they sown to be 25mm thick now? Surely not this spring?

 

I bought some plugs off Ebay in March and they are doing very well, they are not all that thick but the biggest ones are, the rest are not far behind.

 

Sounds excellent. Hopefully not forced too early on (as they may bolt), but I suggest you plant (make a hole with a dibber a good 6" deep, drop in, water well so that soil washed down around the roots, no need to back-fill at all) and sit tight until the Autumn at least.

I think of Leeks as a Winter veg, and personally wouldn't want to eat them earlier, but they are of course edible as soon as they are big enough, in your eyes, and you are ready to eat them

If you see them start to bolt them you'll need to eat them (or convert them to frozen soup, leek&ham pie or somesuch)