Kitchen Garden Forum

I came across this comment on another website and wondered if anybody else had tried this and whether it works on any viable scale?

"Some leeks I grew in the garden have been harvested and the roots plus about 1" or so of the base have been re-planted a few weeks back and I can see they are currently growing further leeks for me."

I wouldn't have thought that in the growing time available before the ground was needed for another crop /winter weather temperatures it would have been possible to get much of a second crop but always interesting to read about other peoples' experiments.

I've seen that on Pin Interest, growing things from stubs of other things, but it tends to be indoors for them in pots, so I suppose you could do it it more successfully with the better conditions if you had the room, but I think outdoors would be too much especially if it was a wet winter, they would just turn to slime.

Might experiment myself actually now you've brought it up - if I can find that site again that is.

Westi

I might experiment with two or three of my insect infected leeks this year ...instead of digging them up as usual, just excavating around the root and cutting off the stem with a sharp knife just above the root. It would presumably have the same effect but put less trauma on the root system if they were left intact and undisturbed. .

Hi Primrose!

That sounds more promising keeping the root intact - nothing to loose as you wouldn't eat that anyway. Keep us updated!

Westi

You can actually grow a Brussels Spout by placing it into the soil but all you actually get is a beautiful flower head and any of the side shoots from certain types of Kale will actually root well and produce a descent plant.

Primrose wrote:I might experiment with two or three of my insect infected leeks this year ...instead of digging them up as usual, just excavating around the root and cutting off the stem with a sharp knife just above the root. It would presumably have the same effect but put less trauma on the root system if they were left intact and undisturbed. .

My money is on it rotting.
I also think it might increase chances of onion fly infestation since even when I dig up leaks completely there is a scent in the ground and on the air

I found the thing on Pinterest I was looking for. Don't think you'd love the site too much though Primrose - some right rubbish I had to sift through to find it, but I did and pinned it for reference so I don't have to suffer that again - celery, lettuce, onions, leeks - quite a few things. I'll try to copy the direct link for you when next I venture in so you can have a look Primrose! Might be a few days though - it was a bit traumatic reading the obvious!

Westi

Well I dug up my first rather miserable leeks the other day but it was pouring with rain at the time and I was getting soaked so wasn't inclined to faff around excavating around the roots with a sharp knife to leave the roots intact.

However will still try and remember to do this next time I dig some up. Will try and take them from the end of a row so I'm not left with an experimental patch in the middle of a space which I subsequently need to dig over for planting out other things, especially as I anticipate failure to produce anything worthwhile from my attempts.

Yeah Primrose - I know what you are saying! But we do like a challenge hey?

Westi

Westi, the one challenge I don't think I'll be rising to is trying to grow one of those Tomtato plants with tomatoes above ground and potatoes below.

Apart from seeing them featured briefly once in KG magazine, they seem to have disappeared off radar. Does anybody on the forum have any experience of then and been brave enough to try one? I can envisage that no plant could really thrive under the strain of having to produce two different crops on one system.

But apart from buying a plug plant, is anyone brave enough to suggest how you would go about it if you wanted to try growing one from scratch because I'm curious

Mrs greenfingers says she wants to try and graft a tomato on to a spud root next spring

robo
knowing your luck even if it grows the spuds will come out above ground and the toms below. Derrrrr lol

The toms will probably turn into plums

diyncraft.com is one site that has 25 things you can regrow from kitchen scraps. This is likely something I might give a go as an experiment as most start on the window sill. I've seen the tomato/potato thing advertised somewhere in the seed catalogues I've had. It's not looking too good first thing tomorrow down here so will be having a little mooch & will let you know if I see them. I won't be growing them but would like to have a go at grafting & saw some tape kit also advertised somewhere as well. I've had good success with grafted tomatoes and peppers but they are expensive.

Westi