Planting Leeks

My leeks are finally (just about) big enough to put in the ground. Saw a small picture in a seed catalogue where they had loo roll tubes around them but it was too small to be clear. Can anyone help me with this one, do I put the tube partly in the hole to keep the soil back or do i just sit it on the surface (though I think they might fall over then) and do you bulid up soil around them as they grow. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thx

 

Hi Sheelagh,

That may just have been what they were grown in to avoid root disturbance, not really needed with leeks.

You get a dibber or stick, make a hole in the ground, put the leek in quite deep & hold onto it while you pour water around it.

The deep bit is to blanch the shaft & the water will settle the soil around the roots.

 

Loo roll tubes can be placed over leeks once they're established to extend the blanched area an additional 100mm or so above ground level, very much in the same way as the blanched area of trench celery is extended by using cardboard 'collars' above ground. Split plastic waste pipe tubes are best as they won't be so susceptible to rot.

I used to do this sort of thing when trying to grow big leeks, but now actually try and stunt them and grow more tender mini-leeks, but still use collars to extend the blanched area,

 

Didn't think of that Scrunge, good idea

 

Thanks JWK I had not thought about NO HIDING PLACE

Jack McH