Can someone give me an answer to a question that's puzzled me for some time, being from Wales the leek is one of our emblems along with the daffodil which we wear with pride on St David's day - but why is it the English in the North can grow leeks the size of a triffid (apolgies to anyone else who who grow huge leeks in other parts of the country) We are grateful in Wales for such leek monsters as when I was a kid we used to compete for the largest leek worn to school.

Guiness, Mad Dog.and stout,administered when one returns from the Pub.
other ingredients are added but I shall not declare the source.

Frankie you are not saying what i think you are saying.. ..please don't make Tattie and Leak soup when i come to visit.

big leeks I live in newcastle geordie land leeks are a passion for leek growers..they live and breath leeks they are tended from seed like a baby nurtured and loved planted in early winter with constant heat just has to be the right temperature,,the seed has been crossed and recrossed with the seed being highly secret every top leek grower guards his own seed strain available to no one but himself these baby leeks take a about 10 mnth to mature for the show...but when you see them love and dedication say it all...I still grow and love my baby leeks musselborough they stand in the ground all winter sweet and tasty use in soups stir fries or just as they are very sweet

This might seem a bit painstaking, but I find it well worth the effort......

I use cat litter trays, as they are nice & deep, be sure to make holes in the bottom though - a hot skewer will do the job. Don't try to drill them - the plastic will crack! I use compost from grow bags, as it seems one of the cheaper ways to buy it.

Now here's the painstaking bit, I plant the seed, (mid-March), individually 1" apart 1/2 deep. That way they don't crowd each other out. I get nearly 100% germination in the cold shed.

One of these trays will produce 96 plants. Compost has to be kept moist. When a reasonable size they can be moved outside to grow on. I then transplant when they are the thickness of a pencil.

Another similar thing that I find useful are the polystyrene boxes that the greengrocers get Broccolli delivered in. They just chuck 'em away so they'll give you them for free.
Same idea,deep sided so you get good strong plants ready for planting out,and the polystyrene helps to keep the warmth in at night.

They come in all sizes 12"x18" to 2ftx2ft.and are handy for all sorts of other stuff as they have a lid on too.


But I'm not really into growing giants, just normal size will do for me

This really does seem a strange place to be discussing leeks though, thought this would be better off in the gardening forum, maybe it will get moved soon

Got a funny feeling that this thread has done a runner from the Gardening thread?

maybe it will get moved in the spring

BigMan wrote:


Having been absent for quite a while I am looking thro old threads, read and re-read this post before the penny dropped, must an age thing. goodun BM

BigMan wrote:


Right on Dave. I am a photographer - not a gardner. I come in to see if anyone has posted about photography and camera gear. Mostly all I see are photos of peoples gardens (beautiful ones I might add, but not really about photography.) From keeping track of the gallery, it is apparent there are some very advanced photographers on here. Would love the hear about their techniques, both gear, techiques and post processing. That just doesn't happen. Come on photographers, lets' hear how you made those great photos.