Allotment Diary : Growing Vegetables How to Grow / Transplant Leeks.

Just a quick video showing how I go about the procedure of transplanting my leek plants into their final growing positions in the allotment.
Leek plants are about ready to transplant when they are about 12" tall and pencil thickness but as It's been raining for the last fortnight here mine have grown a bit bigger.
Then simply make planting holes anywhere from 6-9" deep with a big dibber about 2" wide.
Space the holes from 9" apart in the row and the rows 12" apart or more
The depth of the hole determines the length of white leek stem you'll get as this will be growing underground,out of the sunlight and this "Blanches" the stalk turning it white.
Then separate each leak plant and simply drop one plant into each hole.
Then carefully fill the hole with water to wash a little soil over the roots.
Don't be tempted to fill the hole with soil or you'll end up with soil between the leaves and end up with gritty leeks when it comes time to harvest them.
That's about it really.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• allotment
• diary
• how
• to
• grow
• plant
• transplant
• leeks
• vegetables
• garden
• gardening
• dibber
• roots
• planting
• growing
• transplanting
• demo
• square
• foot
• sow
• seedlings

[ReviveUK]

LOL at yer gritty shaft, job's a good un...I can't wait to get going in mi soil, allotment update (remember? :0) well put down the weedkiller and cut back all the crazy triffid brambles...waiting game now for it to die back, love it

[allotmentdiary]

@ReviveUK Apparently a week of antibiotics clears it up well..LOL !

Systemic stuff takes a while to take effect on weeds but once it starts to die off then usually It's gone for good and all your perennial weeds should be gone.

Cheers,Dan.

[mhpgardener]

Good idea laying down a board to step on. And the spade handle was brilliant. Makes a really nice peg ! Bobby

[allotmentdiary]

@mhpgardener I don't like to stand on my soil as it's pretty heavy clay and it ruins it if I do so the board seems to spread my weight a bit.

The spade handle worked great too !

Cheers,Dan.

[GITITONNOW]

Would it be easier to make a cap for the watering can spout with a smaller hole?

[allotmentdiary]

@GITITONNOW I'm sure I could come up with a better idea than I showed,I used to stick a piece of hosepipe in the end and then I could direct the water straight down the hole.

Don't know why I forgot this time.

Old age I suppose.

Cheers,Dan.

[timbits2]

Getting ready for the season here in Ottawa Canada. Just had to review your blog and videos - great technique for planting leeks.

I have read and watched all of your blog content. Bottom line is that you are an artist in the garden sir! Thanks for passing on your knowledge.

[Allen2045]

Informative video thanks.

[potteryworks]

hi dan, i plant my leeks the same way, and it works wounderful. but i do trim my roots but not the top . easier going in the holes..and i plant them 6" apart.. but i love the shovel handle, i may have to go out and break a shovel, hate them anyway!! my transplants are only 12" started the seeds to late.. yours where beauties...john

[sugerbear520]

nice