4thFrog said:

I'm growing leeks for the first time this year, but don't anything about
growing them, does anyone have any tips?

I've got a method that gives you decently blanched shafts
with no hilling or otherwise fussing about during that long
leek growing season. It's a bit elaborate to start, but no
work at all during the rest of the summer.

Start leeks indoors about now for setting out in mid-April.
(The last few years, though, I've not started seed but have
been mail-ordering leeks for transplant.) You want good,
stout transplants. Trim the tops back to keep the leeks no
more than 6 inches tall, or there about. They can be grown
maybe 10-20 seedlings in a 6 inch pot, to be separated when
ready for transplant.

Prepare a bed thoroughly with compost or well-rotted manure
and other soil amendments (I am partial to alfalfa and seaweed).

Lay out several layers of newspaper over the prepared bed.
Thoroughly cover the newspaper with a thickish layer of straw.

What I do next is to lay out a set of boards across the bed (these
being the boards I use to close off the fronts of the compost
bins). The boards allow me to spread my weight as I work
across the bed setting in the leek transplants, and also serve to
mash down the straw. The boards also serve to help space
out the leeks across the bed, which will be 6 inches apart in rows
about 6 inches apart, with each row offset from the next.

Aiming for something like this:
o o o o o o
o o o o o
o o o o o o

Now, knock the leek seedlings out of the pot and wash off the soil.
Carefully separate the plants, but don't worry if you break the
roots; just be careful not to bend or break the shoots.

(Or put your purchased transplants into a container of water just
before you are ready to plant.)

To plant:
The ideal tool is a nice, long dibble. (You can make one from a
wooden dowel or a branch trimming, but proper dibble with a
handle is easier to use.)

Punch the dibble down through the straw and newspaper.
The hole should be deep enough so that when you drop
your leek transplant in, you will just barely see the green
leaves. (They will actually be just *below* the top of the
straw.) Set them all out, then water them in with a small
watering can, right down into each hole. You can use a
weak solution of transplant fertilizer (half strength) or,
what I prefer, is to use seaweed solution (Maxicrop brand).

The leeks will need no fussing or hilling during the summer.
Maybe top up the straw mulch with some chopped straw, or
you might want to hit them again with a seaweed spray.

My dibble looks a lot like this one:
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/ca...product/99812/

Here's one crafted from wood:
http://www.gerrysartsywoodstuff.com/dibbles.htm

Of course, if you are growing leeks for competition, that's
a whole other story...

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

After enlightenment, the laundry.

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