Hmmm, that's a thought. Will keep it in mind, although I've been growing leeks for so long, I think I'll be able to compare this new method with how all the other seedlings have grown for me.
Great video, Susan!! We are SOOO excited our Little Dibby tool worked for you and THANK YOU so much for trying it out!! Also, we've added the "Bulgarian Giants" leeks to our shopping list! Thank you!
I like the idea of your dibby tool, however I think a great improvement would be to make those measuring rings different colours so that you can more easily tell how deep you've placed it in the soil. Like 1/8" Red, 1/4" Orange, 1/2" Yellow etc. Would be easier for us folks who have a harder time seeing. =)
@@Rosearion Great suggestion! Thank you and it is one we have considered, but our 3d-printing production capacity limits us to one color at a time. Since you mentioned it here, we are starting to brainstorm on ways to make the different colors happen in the future! Thank you for letting us know!
I winter sow my leeks, no lights needed. 1 jug can hold dozens of seedings. I use the dibble method to plant the little threads that disappear down the hole. I should try your giant leeks, but I'll probably have to start them early inside because of the long growing time. It's so satisfying to make a big pot of soup with leeks, garlic and potatoes from the garden!
Thank you for posting I was getting discouraged when I saw the grow lights, which I don't, (and won't be able to) have. Last year I tried the winter sowing method. Only the March seeds worked so that only gives me from March 15 to September/October to grow. Zone 5, Ontario Canada. The leeks I grew last year were still pencils by fall, but they didn't get much sun where they were. Maybe I'll try some in our new raised garden bed this year. Thanks again for those encouraging words.
@@wendyburston3132 I'm zone 5b in Michigan, so kinda nearby. My leeks were smaller this year, I blame the cool summer. Yes, try them in the new bed, they like full sun. Good luck!
I never grow leeks or used them, thank You for inspiring Me to grow them this year. I order leeks today and the little dibber.. Thank You for the information. Love Your channel..
I have more sunny space to garden in this year and I'll be starting more seeds indoors, so the Little Dibby tool will really come in handy. Thanks for sharing about it. And it was great to learn about the No Damp Off too.
That's terrific! I think you'll really enjoy growing them. Thanks for letting Sean and Allison know you saw the Little Dibby in my video! They are super nice folks.
Susan, I've been growing a garden for years, but I've never planted leeks before. I'm going to take your advice and give them a try this year! I hope that you and Bill have a healthy and Happy 2022! ~Margie
I am a new gardener in Arkansas. I ordered some leek seedlings this year and they just arrived. I will try planting from seed next year. I have also been watching English gardener's videos on planting leeks and am going to give that method a try. Thanks for all the info and encouragement you share! It is very helpful.
Suggest you get or make flexible paper tubing material, like a paper towel tube, then wrap around leeks once they start to need burying to maintain white stalk. Since you don’t bury, yours stay green in much of areas that can be white and delicious. It works and is a great method.
Those are some gorgeous specimens. I’ve wondered about how early British gardeners start seeds and plant out but I always figured it was just because their climate is more mild than mine. I’ll be interested to see how this works for you! Also, nice intro song update.
Hi Susan , Happy New Year to you and your family. Thank you for the leek show , My leeks did not grow well last year. This year I will try again in a new spot that the leeks might like better.Thank you for having us along....
Just bulk seed them heavily over any fairly deep container with normal potting soil and keep the seed moist until germination, and then water regularly. Leek roots are easily pried apart from soil and then planted, or soaked in water and pried apart. This is to ensure enough will germinate to plant, and they are easily separated with virtually no transplant shock. Then, just poke a 6 inch hole into soil with a dibbler and plop the plant in and then just water it in, don't press soil back into the holes, just let it fill over time via watering. In time, as each plant grows, hill the rows up a little. I've been planting my leeks this way for decades.
@@mingli6753 Hi, Ming Li. In the past, I started my leeks in Feb. but this year I started them in early Jan. They will be about 3 1/2 months old before I transplant them.
We are in the northeast and grew leeks last year but ended up with the onion maggot larvae in many of them. Bought a bolt of tulle and will try your method of covering the row with netting. Will see if the mesh is small enough to keep the fly out.
I don't know if I would use tulle for that, just to be on the safe side. The openings in tulle vary quite a bit and those flies might be able to get through the tulle.
@@SusansInTheGarden Thanks! Maybe I'll get some floating row cover and save the tulle for the brassicas. I did buy the "premium" and hope the openings are small enough for more than just the cabbage moths. P.S. Got your book for Christmas. It's great and I plan use the directions to make a bunch of hoops to hold up the row cover and tulle.
in montreal canada... i will have to cover them... the leeks flies ruined my crops this year. but i saw that method from british also i will try it! happy new year!
I just ordered leeks today so this is perfectly timed! Thanks so much! The seed packet says 120 days, which would be mid-May. Does that fit with your experience? I'm a new subscriber and am enjoying your videos, thank you!
No, I would definitely rotate them on a 3-year basis, where you don't grow members of the allium family in the same place for 3 years. And the same applies to all vegetable plant families. I have a video that explains the process in more detail: th-cam.com/video/pzs36KdV2cA/w-d-xo.html.
Well, I wasn't expecting that question, LOL! I actually bought it in a store in France ages ago and am crazy about it. It has a border of dogwood flowers, which is gorgeous. It has faded and shrunk over the years but I still love it.
Those are huge leeks! I see you are starting your seedlings in what appears to be a warm room in your home (not a basement) and that you are not using a heat mat. Is the ambient air best for leeks if it is warm? I tried to start mine in an unfinished basement with a heat mat and lights last year and had no germination success. Thanks!
@@SusansInTheGarden Thank you, I will try without a heat mat this year. I have always bought seedlings and transplanted them by using a dibber and it works every time. Good luck with yours!
I gave a quick update on the leeks which will appear near the end of my newest video that will go live tonight (Thursday) and hope to plant them next week, so that would be the topic provided the weather cooperates! Thanks for asking.
Very well done!
Thank you!
You should do an experiment by not cutting half the leeks and cutting the other half. I'm curious with will grow better
Hmmm, that's a thought. Will keep it in mind, although I've been growing leeks for so long, I think I'll be able to compare this new method with how all the other seedlings have grown for me.
Great video, Susan!! We are SOOO excited our Little Dibby tool worked for you and THANK YOU so much for trying it out!! Also, we've added the "Bulgarian Giants" leeks to our shopping list! Thank you!
I like the idea of your dibby tool, however I think a great improvement would be to make those measuring rings different colours so that you can more easily tell how deep you've placed it in the soil. Like 1/8" Red, 1/4" Orange, 1/2" Yellow etc. Would be easier for us folks who have a harder time seeing. =)
@@Rosearion Great suggestion! Thank you and it is one we have considered, but our 3d-printing production capacity limits us to one color at a time. Since you mentioned it here, we are starting to brainstorm on ways to make the different colors happen in the future! Thank you for letting us know!
I winter sow my leeks, no lights needed. 1 jug can hold dozens of seedings. I use the dibble method to plant the little threads that disappear down the hole. I should try your giant leeks, but I'll probably have to start them early inside because of the long growing time. It's so satisfying to make a big pot of soup with leeks, garlic and potatoes from the garden!
Thank you for posting I was getting discouraged when I saw the grow lights, which I don't, (and won't be able to) have. Last year I tried the winter sowing method. Only the March seeds worked so that only gives me from March 15 to September/October to grow. Zone 5, Ontario Canada. The leeks I grew last year were still pencils by fall, but they didn't get much sun where they were. Maybe I'll try some in our new raised garden bed this year. Thanks again for those encouraging words.
@@wendyburston3132 I'm zone 5b in Michigan, so kinda nearby. My leeks were smaller this year, I blame the cool summer. Yes, try them in the new bed, they like full sun. Good luck!
I never grow leeks or used them, thank You for inspiring Me to grow them this year. I order leeks today and the little dibber.. Thank You for the information. Love Your channel..
Wonderful! Thank you for your kind comments, Maritza.
I have more sunny space to garden in this year and I'll be starting more seeds indoors, so the Little Dibby tool will really come in handy. Thanks for sharing about it. And it was great to learn about the No Damp Off too.
Glad it was helpful.
I have found that adding some cheap cinnamon to the seed starting soiless mix eliminates all damp off problems
I bought leak seeds yesterday. I'm very excited to have them as a new crop for us this year!
Thanks for sharing.
I like the idea of the tool, so I ordered one. I told them I saw it on your video. Thanks for sharing that. I have never tried leeks, but I will now.
That's terrific! I think you'll really enjoy growing them. Thanks for letting Sean and Allison know you saw the Little Dibby in my video! They are super nice folks.
Susan, I've been growing a garden for years, but I've never planted leeks before. I'm going to take your advice and give them a try this year! I hope that you and Bill have a healthy and Happy 2022! ~Margie
That is great! Happy New Year to you, too, Margie.
Best wishes for a great (and much cooler) growing season!
Thanks, that would be lovely!
I am a new gardener in Arkansas. I ordered some leek seedlings this year and they just arrived. I will try planting from seed next year. I have also been watching English gardener's videos on planting leeks and am going to give that method a try. Thanks for all the info and encouragement you share! It is very helpful.
Thank you, Jennifer!
Suggest you get or make flexible paper tubing material, like a paper towel tube, then wrap around leeks once they start to need burying to maintain white stalk. Since you don’t bury, yours stay green in much of areas that can be white and delicious. It works and is a great method.
Those are some gorgeous specimens. I’ve wondered about how early British gardeners start seeds and plant out but I always figured it was just because their climate is more mild than mine. I’ll be interested to see how this works for you! Also, nice intro song update.
Thanks! It's a fun little tune.
I always learn so much from your videos, Susan! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with all of us! I ordered my Dibber tool yesterday 🤗
Wonderful!
I dug some leeks and made potato leek soup before the snow came yesterday
Thanks to you, I think I'm going to try growing leeks for the first time this year!
Awesome!
Hi Susan , Happy New Year to you and your family. Thank you for the leek show , My leeks did not grow well last year. This year I will try again in a new spot that the leeks might like better.Thank you for having us along....
Happy new year, Lori! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video.
Interesting method planting outdoors. Hope it works in Texas we have very unpredictable weather.
Thanks! always learn somthing neww! That damp off stuff is in my future!
Thanks for this information. Happy New Year!!!
Happy new year to you, too!
Just bulk seed them heavily over any fairly deep container with normal potting soil and keep the seed moist until germination, and then water regularly. Leek roots are easily pried apart from soil and then planted, or soaked in water and pried apart. This is to ensure enough will germinate to plant, and they are easily separated with virtually no transplant shock. Then, just poke a 6 inch hole into soil with a dibbler and plop the plant in and then just water it in, don't press soil back into the holes, just let it fill over time via watering. In time, as each plant grows, hill the rows up a little. I've been planting my leeks this way for decades.
Great tips, thank you.
Hello 👋 . How long it takes to grow your seedlings before transplanting them into your garden ? Thanks.
@@mingli6753 Hi, Ming Li. In the past, I started my leeks in Feb. but this year I started them in early Jan. They will be about 3 1/2 months old before I transplant them.
@@SusansInTheGarden thanks.
We are in the northeast and grew leeks last year but ended up with the onion maggot larvae in many of them. Bought a bolt of tulle and will try your method of covering the row with netting. Will see if the mesh is small enough to keep the fly out.
I don't know if I would use tulle for that, just to be on the safe side. The openings in tulle vary quite a bit and those flies might be able to get through the tulle.
@@SusansInTheGarden Thanks! Maybe I'll get some floating row cover and save the tulle for the brassicas. I did buy the "premium" and hope the openings are small enough for more than just the cabbage moths. P.S. Got your book for Christmas. It's great and I plan use the directions to make a bunch of hoops to hold up the row cover and tulle.
Watching for 2nd time as my Bulgarian leek seeds came a few days ago!
Yahoo!
in montreal canada... i will have to cover them... the leeks flies ruined my crops this year. but i saw that method from british also i will try it! happy new year!
Wow, was it onion maggots (the larval stage of the onion fly?) I'm so sorry to hear about that because it would be so discouraging.
@@SusansInTheGarden it was
@@anniewildmush1284 Ugh, that's awful.
I read that you should plant onions and carrots together because they help eliminate each other's pests
@@wendyburston3132 I haven't heard that but it's worth investigating!
Well, I’m now growing leeks this year! 😊
Wonderful!
I love leaks soup.i love gardenning but never tried this.i bought some chives seeds and grew but failed.
Just keep on trying! That's how we become better gardeners!
Hi There, Where did you find your bottle sprinkler top? I'd love to get one. Thanks from NS, Canada.
Hello! If you do a web search on "bottle top waterers," you'll find plenty of sources for them. They are so handy.
I just ordered leeks today so this is perfectly timed! Thanks so much! The seed packet says 120 days, which would be mid-May. Does that fit with your experience?
I'm a new subscriber and am enjoying your videos, thank you!
I grow them all season and harvest them in the fall, usually after they've been frosted.
Nice video!! Is it wise to plant onions/ leeks in the same bed year after year?
No, I would definitely rotate them on a 3-year basis, where you don't grow members of the allium family in the same place for 3 years. And the same applies to all vegetable plant families. I have a video that explains the process in more detail: th-cam.com/video/pzs36KdV2cA/w-d-xo.html.
When do you plant out your leek seedlings in the garden?
Late April.
@@SusansInTheGarden So Susan your seedlings are 3 months old, is that right?
@@mingli6753 Yes, that is correct. I think I might be able to plant them a bit sooner.
Where did you get your tablecloth? Thanks
Well, I wasn't expecting that question, LOL! I actually bought it in a store in France ages ago and am crazy about it. It has a border of dogwood flowers, which is gorgeous. It has faded and shrunk over the years but I still love it.
Those are huge leeks! I see you are starting your seedlings in what appears to be a warm room in your home (not a basement) and that you are not using a heat mat. Is the ambient air best for leeks if it is warm? I tried to start mine in an unfinished basement with a heat mat and lights last year and had no germination success. Thanks!
I've always started the seeds this way and had great success. They definitely don't need a heat mat.
@@SusansInTheGarden Thank you, I will try without a heat mat this year. I have always bought seedlings and transplanted them by using a dibber and it works every time. Good luck with yours!
How much space do you have for the leek?
Kind regardes
I grow them about 6" apart in an 8'-long row.
Could I start leeks in milk jugs
Winter gardening?
Yes, I did that last year and it worked great.
Thanks
Any updates video?!?
I gave a quick update on the leeks which will appear near the end of my newest video that will go live tonight (Thursday) and hope to plant them next week, so that would be the topic provided the weather cooperates! Thanks for asking.