Planting leeks in extreme summer weather

Planting leeks in extreme summer weather

"Leeks should preferably be planted out when there is a prospect of a few days with cloudy weather and preferably rain". This is often the case, but 2018 has just not read it - there is not the slightest prospect of a suitable pore planting weather as far as the eye can see, and there is not much point in continuing to wait for it to come. The leeks need to be planted, but then it has to be done a little differently than usual.

First, the bed (which has not seen water for several weeks) was groundwater, and then holes were dug for the plants. The holes became a little deeper than they usually are (about 22-25 cm), so most of the small leeks will be in the shade down in the holes.

It is often recommended to spray both root and top when planting leeks. I’ve never done that, and experience says it doesn’t make that much of a difference either. This time, however, I have cut the tops down to about 25 cm so that the root does not have to keep a too large top juicy in the heat. The plants were then stuffed into the holes so that only a few cm protrude, and then the holes have been filled up well with water so that the roots are effectively covered by mud. Then the little ones should be able to manage in the heath - possibly with a shading non-woven fabric and a sprinkler if some look a little relaxed.

Written by Peter Norris, June 4, 2018