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It's Time For Leeks
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Sjoerd
Enlightened One
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland
Posts: 2532
PlantStew: 93 |
| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:46 am Post subject: It's Time For Leeks |
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We planted our seeds back in the spring and it is now time to plant the leek plantlets.
I took some fotos as my partner demonstrated.
--First I dug a furrow and used a dibber to make holes in the bottom of it. I also added a pinch of bone meal into the holes.
--I will place the plantlets into these holes, but first I need to do a couple of things: I tear off the tips of the roots.
--Next, I tear off about ¼ to ½ of the foliage.
--Here you can see what is left over from the rough handling of the plantlets.
--The final place for the prepared plantlets after watering-in the holes.
Now for some explanation, because I do not know what you know or don't know about this procedure.
--Root tip and foliage removal. This seemingly rough step induces the plantlet to thicken the root ball and grow more foliage.
--Furrows. I dig a furrow and then dibber holes in the bottom of it because as the plant grows it will need to be earthed-up. We eat the white portion of leeks and the deepness of the plant's "stalk" will give it a longer area of white, which is the portion we eat.
Further, you leave the high soil edges to use to cover the plant stalk with up to the growpoint as it grows taller and taller. Just scrape the earth into the furrow.
--The holes. You leave these open and let nature and waterings gradully fill them in time.
-- I feed these plants with blood meal once and manure 'tea' about every two weeks until late fall/ early winter.
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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
Last edited by Sjoerd on Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:45 am; edited 1 time in total
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Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:03 am Post subject: |
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Well told, Sjoerd! I can see that I did everything wrong when I tried to grow leek for the first time. They grew little, but tasted fairly good anyway!  And they had a lot of white on them, so maybe I was too good at covering them up with dirt.
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Sjoerd
Enlightened One
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland
Posts: 2532
PlantStew: 93 |
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gardengater
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 30 May 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 817
PlantStew: 26 |
| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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I'm so happy for the lesson on Leek growing. I plan to put some in the garden this fall and overwinter them. Keep the pics and lessons coming.
Gardengater
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Biita
Arctic-ally Challenged Forager
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: Norway (Map)
Posts: 1789
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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Looking great Sjoerd, I don't have any Leeks but i have been seriously concidering them.. i really just use my wild leeks mostly,,but i do love leeks. Now i know i'll do them right when i do plan to grow them,,,Thanks!
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EJ
Allotmenteer Extraordinaire
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Location: Essex
Posts: 1499
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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Lovely Sjoerd. Your leeks are a dam size bigger than my skinny little things, but in mine went. I don't trim them but I do dib deep holes so just the tips are protruding. My variety was Musselbourgh and I planted about 40 which is enough for us.
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Sjoerd
Enlightened One
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland
Posts: 2532
PlantStew: 93 |
| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 12:09 am Post subject: |
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Oh...I have a real weakness for leeks. I hope that these turn out ok this year--they are a new type for me--'Herfstreuzen'.
I expect them to do alright, but if I were growing these for exhibition, I'd do it a bit differently.
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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
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flowerpower313
On The Way Up
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Location: Catskill Mtns NY Z5
Posts: 118
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:49 am Post subject: |
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I started seed for the first time this yr. I have some starts but they are very small. I think I will put them in today. Even if they don't get big, it'll be good practice for next yr's crop. I have both American Flag and Blue Solaize varieties. The pics were extremely helpful.  Thanks
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Sjoerd
Enlightened One
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland
Posts: 2532
PlantStew: 93 |
| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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I'm glad some of you find my posting of how we did the leeks this year helpful. That's quite nice to hear.
There are lots of different ways of doing leeks and it seems like they all work. I guess the difference is what one's goal is when it comes to planting them.
FLOWERPOWER-- I don't know those two types. I like to try different types of various veggies from time to time...what lead you to choose these two types specifically?
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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
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flowerpower313
On The Way Up
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Location: Catskill Mtns NY Z5
Posts: 118
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:41 am Post subject: |
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I received both varieties in trades.   Trading seed is a great way of trying new things you might not normally buy. In my experience, most gardeners have been VERY generous with seed.
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Sjoerd
Enlightened One
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland
Posts: 2532
PlantStew: 93 |
| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, ok. I was just curious. I ofteh choose the veggies that I grow based upon some kind of 'gardening factor'. like size, time of harvest, resistance.
Trying new stuff is something that I like to do though, and exchanging seeds is an excellent way to do that, I agree.
Do show some pics when you get the chance.
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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
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