Your comments and tips

18 Oct 14, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)

Any type which produces offsets (baby plants growing off the base of the stem) potentially perennial. You leave or transplant any offsets when you harvest the main plant. Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum is a perennial or multiplying variety.

Reply or Post a new comment

12 Jun 14, (USA - Zone 8a climate)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO 'BLANCH' THE STEM OR PLANT?

Reply or Post a new comment

13 Jun 14, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)

It means to exclude light from the stem. That is what creates the white, tightly packed section of the leek, which is the bit we like to cook with. There are two main ways to achieve this: 1. As the plant grows, pack soil around the stem; or 2. Plant seeds or seedlings in a trench (about 10cm deep) and as the plant grows fill in the trench. Hope this helps.

Reply or Post a new comment

05 May 14, Amith (Australia - temperate climate)

I tried sawing the seeds in trays, but no seedlings emerged, even after 3 weeks. I tried many times, but none was a success. Not sure what I am doing wrong. I live in Melbourne, and I have raised beds, prepared with good potting mix.

Reply or Post a new comment

12 Jul 14, Yuri Dreason (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Seeds are a lot of trouble. We grow perennial (aka multiplier) leeks. Much easier for novice gardener. They do not produce viable seed, they grow many babies off their base instead.

Reply or Post a new comment

13 May 14, Travis Edwards (Australia - temperate climate)

I grow lots of leeks not far from Melbourne. the only time I have had a failure is when I used a cheap seed raising mix. I recommend a good quality seed raising mix and buy good quality seeds. I grow musselburgh, lyon prize taker and carentan 2 with great success. I find seeds which are fresher have a greater success rate and after a couple of years they may drop to around 50% but you still get some growing. In a 24 cell tray plant approx 4 seeds per cell, you will find most will grow but leeks do not mind some root disturbance when transplanting, just tease them apart and plant them in a hole about 30 mm diameter and 150 mm deep. When planting them in your seed trays plant the seed approx 10 mm deep and keep moist not saturated but do not let them dry out.

Reply or Post a new comment

25 Jan 14, Ann (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

How do I save seed from my leeks. They are in full flower now (end of January) and I would like to have the next lot planted in the autumn. Thanks, Ballarat

Reply or Post a new comment

25 Jan 14, Paul (Australia - arid climate)

Depending on whether the stem is dry or not. If dry pinch off the head and scrunch seeds into a paper bag. If still green but seed head is fully formed and there are no longer any hover flys or bees still pollinating place a knee high stocking over it and peg closed to save any dry seed that may shake out. Then when stem is dry do the scrunch thing into a paper bag. Store all seed in a cool dry place.

Reply or Post a new comment

30 Aug 13, Kyria (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted my leeks (from seed) roughly a month and half ago, they have only grown a tiny bit - they actually resemble toothpicks. What am I doing wrong? I live in Melbourne metro

Reply or Post a new comment

30 Mar 14, Matt from Canberra (Australia - temperate climate)

You are too impatient, that is the only thing you are doing wrong. Leeks grow very slow when grown from seed. We grow perennial leeks to avoid this problem and have leeks growing all year.

Reply or Post a new comment