Your comments and tips

12 Nov 11, Fae (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Are leeks edible when the seed head forms. Should I cut off the green stalks at ground level and let it reshoot for the next crop

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07 Dec 11, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)

Too woody to eat by then .. I let them flower for the following year's seeds

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03 Mar 12, The Micro Gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I cut off all leeks (shallots too) just above the base with a sharp knife when harvesting, cover with soil & mulch again and refertilise so I get another crop for free. Double your harvest.

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20 Sep 11, New gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have planted trays of seedling leeks but as they grow should I thin them out so that they each have space around them or do I leave them as a little bunch as per the seedling tray? Help!

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09 Aug 11, Joe Cassar (Australia - temperate climate)

I live on the south coast, Sanctuary Point in the Jervis Bay area. I put leek seeds early winter and probably think now that I should have put the seeds in around late summer or early autumn. When is the best time to grow leek?

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02 Jan 11, Chris Morton (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

My leeks have started to develop seed heads. At the same time they are also producing little bulbs off the side of the main bulb in the soil. These bulbs will be very numerous and can (I think) be used to produce the next season's crop. This assumption is based on how we have used the many bulbs found growing in the vegie garden we have inhertited. Are these normal leeks? Do people normally use these bulbs to produce the next crop? Would love to know more about growing leeks.

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27 Apr 11, Peter (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

We bought three leeks from a fruit shop a few years ago. I took the pups off and planted them ,3 years later we had at least 3 rows and were sick to death of eating them. We did grow some more about a year later but have never come across this suckering type since.

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21 May 11, Mukluk (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

It sounds like you had a perennial leek (also known as multiplyer leek). They easily grow from pups/offshoots and do not often set viable seed. That is the variety that I currently grow as they are simple and if I forget about them will look after themselves. I like perennial vegetables as I do not have to worry about saving seed and possible hybridisation.

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15 Nov 10, Yvonne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Wow! How time flies! My last post was July 18th and I said I would get back to you in Nov. with my leek progress. Well I blanched them with cane mulch as I said I would, and when they were about eight inches high I started blanching with shredded newspaper. (I have a shredder) Well the newspaper worked really well after the initial cane mulch. The leeks are now tall and strong but not thick enough for harvesting. So I have blanched twice with cane mulch, once when I first put the seedlings in and again about four weeks later, about four weeks after that I blanched with newspaper and again two weeks ago. Thanks for the info about the flowers, I hadn't thought that far ahead yet. I will get beck to you when I harvest my first leek. Cheers

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19 Sep 10, sarah (Australia - temperate climate)

I grow leeks every year and mound them up as they grow to blanch the flesh. with the soil from each slide of the row and straw on top, so they end up on a ridge with the trench down the side. I water in the trench when required. I dont seem to have trouble with them going to flower and only finished harvesting last years crop a month ago. Now planting the next lot. Delicious, blanched wrapped in ham and then topped with a cheese sauce and a crumb topping in the oven.

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