Floppy leek seedlings

[Carrie]

I have sown my leeks in small modules and the dreaded loo rolls. They're all looking rather floppy, and I wonder when I'm supposed to plant them out. Should they be flipping over at this stage, or do they need a bigger pot? They're about 3 inches tall, and very thin.
PS Sorry to keep asking questions, but my level of inexperience is such that I don't really get to answer other peoples!

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Carrie, was wondering if the leeks are getting enough light, or sown a bit to thickly.
I would not pot them on personally.
Don't worry about not answering any questions, you could always do what i do and just make the answers up.

Kind regards the Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

[Anonymous]

i would maybe try replanting them

[jane E]

I sow leeks about 8 to a roottrainer and a loo roll is a similar size. Have you got about 8 or more? Little leeks are thin. Where are they? They need to be sheltered but not warm - eg unheated greenhouse or coldframe.When you plant them out in June dib a hole for each one and don't push the soil in on them. Just water them in gently. That way the soil is loose round them and they have room to expand.

[Freckleston]

I did a search on floppy leek seedlings and came up with this thread! I was wondering if they turned out OK in the end as mine are about 3in and really skinny - I was wondering if they were upside down and this was the root! So do think it would be a good idea to pot on? I keep mine just on my windowsill, (everything else is fine as I keep turning the trays).

[alan refail]

Leave them alone. Leeks can be sown fairly thickly and planted out when they are about 6-7 inches tall. Just make sure they are well watered. Loo rolls (or bog rolls as they are properly known) do dry out quickly.

Alan

[Monika]

Freckledston, "on the windowsill" is a bit worrying, it sounds too warm to me unless it's a completely unheated room. They could be suffering from too much heat with too little light.

[Freckleston]

thank you for your comments. i think I will sow some more as well and keep them in my little greenhouse - at least Ive got more chances then! Also, I thought little plants liked to be warm! Some of the seedlings are lying horizontal across the tray now - (I really do not think those ones are happy at all).

[Johnboy]

Hi Carrie,
Leeks do not need added heat to germinate and grow.
You are killing your plants with kindness.
As Monika says "on the windowsill is worrying".
They are getting too much heat and not enough light.
I would put them outside during the day and bring them in into an unheated place at night for a few days to harden them off and thereafter leave them outside.
They will either pick up or die. Failing that scrap them and resow with some protection outside.
JB.

[dewwex]

emm.. when you say leeks are floppy? leek seedlings are like onion seddlings. they germinate with a kink in them. So when you say they are floppy, are you sure that this is not their natural kink.

ya..leeks don't need heat. indeed a hot glass house could be to a bit too hot idealy speaking also. they should be able to live outside in there modules after a period of hardening off from May onwards generally. they should be planted out roughtly at ten weeks from sowing or so.June by the sounds of it for you!.

[Freckleston]

the seedlings are still growing so I have not sown any replacements. I have only had one year of growing veg and I think I am very lucky as I dont really know what I am doing but everything still seems provide me with something! I always sow everything (veg/herbs/flowers) into little 1½" plug trays to start off on my windowsill and then move to bigger pots with protection outside (this is the only method I know). So currently the leeks are in 3" pots (about six in a pot!) and I guess I will wait and see what happens next! I dont know if this is normal or not . I do have books but there is so much information I tend to get a bit confused . The leeks basically just look like long blades of grass at the moment (at least they are not horizontal any more) Thank you for your comments everyone

[Freckleston]

by the way I have taken on board the advice about heat - I think it wont have mattered too much in this case - the only heat would have been from the sun as my house is freezing!

[Primrose]

Leeks are quite worrying plants for a first time gardener to grow as they always start off so thin and miserable looking that you can't ever imagine they will thicken up into normal looking plants. I've often fretted unnecessarily about mine in the past. However, they are quite hardy and if the roots are now well established I would think it's now time to try and harden them off a little if you have a sheltered spot outside somewhere you can put them, mat least during the day. You may be surprised once you've planted them out how quickly they will start to thicken up and look like the "real thing". But if you want to grow leeks regularly I suggest you treat yourself to a "dibber" which makes a nice deep individual hole for each plant. Then just pop it in and water well. The watering process will wash enough soil around the roots to anchor them and let them grow and gradually the watering process will fill the hole up.