How to Growing Leeks

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When to Sow Leeks

Plant Out: May to July
Sow Outdoors: March to April

How to Grow Leeks

Leeks are ready to transplant in June when they are about 20cm (8in) high and the thickness of a pencil.
Water well the day before lifting and transplanting.
Prepare the plants by trimming off the root tips.
Make 15cm (6in) deep holes, 15cm (6in) apart in rows 30cm (12in) apart and drop a plant into each hole.
Fill the hole with water to settle the roots. You don’t need to backfill the hole with soil, just let the water settle the soil around the roots.
If you have a lot of plants, try dropping two or three into each planting hole. You'll get smaller leeks but the overall yield should be the same.

Tips for better leeks

To increase the length of white stem it can be blanched by gently drawing up dry soil around the stem in stages, but try not to allow soil to fall between the leaves or you will get gritty leeks.
Water during long, dry spells and weed regularly as leeks hate to be surrounded by weeds.
When you have the made the hole with your dibber, before you remove the dibber from the soil just compress the soil around the dibber slightly and place your hand around the dibber to keep the soil in place so it doesn't fill the hole in as the dibber is removed.
To get your leeks of to a flying start, drop 2 or 3 chicken manure pellets into each hole before you pop the leek in.
I always net mine till well established as birds love to tug at them or eat the green tops.

Category: Recipes

Fagiolini in Umido

This is a great dish to use some of the abundant Green Beans that should be available in the summer months Fagiolini in Umido is an Italian dside dish simply means Green Beans cooked in Tomato.

This simple aubergine parmigiana recipe from Italy makes a cosy mid-week meal. Serve this cheese, tomato and aubergine bake as a vegetarian main dish, with some wholewheat garlic bread or a peppery rocket salad, or you can also make it as a hearty side for for a meat dish.!

Category: The Growing Season

Jobs to do in June

Summer should be here!

Usually the risk of frost has passed by now, and with longer days there comes more sunshine and time to be in your allotment. If the weather is dry, then water your seed drills well before sowing any seeds – this way the young plants will develop a good root system.

Jobs to do in September

Jobs to do in September
September marks a change in the seasons, you'll be harvesting the last of your summer crops if you haven't already done so, crops like tomatoes, beans, peppers, sweetcorn will be finishing, but on the other hand the first of the Autumn crops will be nearing ready or may be ready like Apples, Pears, Main Crop Potatoes, Winter Squashes to name but a few!

Jobs to do in August

Harvest should be bountiful and the allotment is in full swing

August is the month of plenty, virtually everything you planted and sown will be giving you a crop, daily trips to the plot are recommended this month, harvesting, watering, and weeding all needing doing this month!

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