Leicester_H Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Hi I have planted some leeks in my raised beds. Above ground the 'leaves' (?) are quite tall and straggly and being blown around by the wind and getting bent over. Can I cut these down a bit or should I leave them alone? Thanks, H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Hi Hazel, Yes, I have certainly cut mine back in the past with no adverse effects, in fact, I bought some from Melton Market one year from a farmer's stall and they were already trimmed back and sold in a bunch rather than in soil. N.B. If they are quite small/thin delicate plants then don't take too much off. The other alternative is to re-plant them deeper; some people do that anyway to help blanch the leeks. I'm not that bothered and quite enjoy the green bits! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted September 2, 2012 Author Share Posted September 2, 2012 Ta! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 personaly I'd have dibbered the hole a bit deeper if you've only just planted them but if they've been planted a while I'd leave them be I changed the way I plant my leeks a few years back I now plant them the way the 'old boys' used to plant them.I use an old spade handle as a dibber to make the hole about 6" deep then drop the leek in fill the hole with water the leave them to it. it looks like I should get a good crop of leeks this year as long as they don't get the allium leaf miner attack them before I get the nets over them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 I use an old spade handle as a dibber to make the hole about 6" deep then drop the leek in fill the hole with water the leave them to it. I more or less did that too. I used broom handle to make 6" deep hole - dropped them in, filled with water. I've never grown leeks before so my fingers are crossed. Thanks, H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Once I have transplanted them in the way previously described ( I do nip a few inches of each leek plant before I replant it though) I leave mine alone, a chap on out allotments trimmed his previously good looking leeks a few weeks ago and a couple of them have now bolted and they look awful whereas mine are doing really well this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Once I have transplanted them in the way previously described ( I do nip a few inches of each leek plant before I replant it though) I leave mine alone, a chap on out allotments trimmed his previously good looking leeks a few weeks ago and a couple of them have now bolted and they look awful whereas mine are doing really well this year. it could be he wants them for seed I know one of the guys on my site trims the leeks he selects for seed but thats normally in the second year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
