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

Lamb Cutlets with Butternut Squash & Mint

Simply delicious one of my all time favourites

One-Pot Roast Pork Chops with Fennel & Potatoes

Super easy and super tasty dish!

Classic Rhubarb Crumble

Classic Rhubarb Crumble
Growing up this was my favourite dessert & seeing as only my dad and I liked it I always had a massive portion!

Category: The Growing Season

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 March

Spring is starting and the new season is here

Hopefully by now we are now standing on the threshold of Spring and the new gardening season. The days are beginning to lengthen and although it may not feel like it at times the temperatures are slowly increasing day by day. More importantly the longer days are the real trigger to new growth and you will find that with the help of a little protection you can really go for those early sowings

Jobs to do in October

October is the month when it feels like the season is about to turn, the days start to shorten and the sun appears lower in the sky, the leaves change colour and fall to the ground and temperatures drop. The first frost are likely too, which will be the end of many of your crops out in the open so if you still haven’t harvested frost sensitive crops now is the time before Jack Frost gets them!

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