Leeks going to seed

[Chantal]

I'm finding a lot of my Winter Giant leeks are going to seed this year. I have watered them well over the past few dry weeks.

Does anyone know why they're bolting?

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Chantal, i was just wondering if you sowed your late leeks very early, if you see what i mean.

[Chantal]

Hi OH

According to my spreadsheet I sowed the Winter Giant on 14 March. Is that too early for them? I often start leeks off in January

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Chantal, March the 14th sounds fine to me.

I know this is going to sound a bit cheeky, but you did give them a good soaking before and after transplanting, didn't you.

[Chantal]

I certainly gave them plenty of water once they were in their holes but I don't recall soaking them when they were still in their pot. Should I have done that?

As I have to separate them I don't think I've ever watered them first although they're not dry.

Does this make the difference?

[Primrose]

I've had two plants start to bolt. I've been a too busy to water much over the past couple of week so must get out there with the hose as it's been very dry here. I sowed min late January and planted out mid April when they were still so small you could hardly see them. Possibly some varieties mature earlier than others and this could be a reason?

[Johnboy]

Hi Chantal,
I do not sow my late leeks (that will see me through until about May the following year) until very late May. They get planted out a couple of months later and seem to do fairly well. I sow others in March to April and again plant out a couple of months later.
All my Leeks are module grown and therefore have plenty of holding time and sometimes they go out earlier but generally a little bit on the late side.
JB.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Chantal, i always try and give everything a good soaking a couple of hours before transplanting, the roots always seem to appreciate it.

I was just trying to think of anything that has given your leeks any stress, and as you have watered them well since they have been planted it can't be that.

I wonder if anyone else has any thoughts, as it is strange for them to be going to seed this time of the year.

[Chantal]

Thanks OH

I've sometimes lost the odd one early but don't usually have a problem until around May the following year.

There must be over 30 that have bolted as of yesterday with more clearly heading in that direction. Mercifully I planted nearly 400 leeks, 100 or so of them were Jolant and they're fine. It seems that a good many of the Winter Giant are OK too (so far) so I don't think I'll run out for a while.

Moreover, my sister is always trying to persuade me to let them seed as she likes the seed heads as cut flowers I rarely give in to her but this year could be an exception.

I'd be interested to see if it's just me or if it's a more general problem though.

[Beryl]

I planted out my Winter Giant early in March this year because I wanted them for the shows in August.
Superb leeks but what is left is now running to seed.

To over-winter I would normally plant as the potatoes come out from mid-June onwards.

Good success with growing under enviromesh this year for the first time.
No leek moth.

Beryl.

[John]

Just a thought. Leeks are biennial and need a cold spell (normally winter) to start them off on the way to producing flowers. Unusually we had a very cold spell round here at the end of May (second coldest since records ...) so this might have confused your plants into thinking that its time to do some flowering.


John

[Chantal]

That is a thought John, I hope it was the weather that's caused the problem and not me doing something wrong

[Johnboy]

Hi John,
Because they are normally a perennial doesn't mean that it will not flower in it's first year.
Many of the bedding plants that are on sale are perennial and they are planted exceptionally early to make them bloom the first year. This leads me to think that it has something to do with the sowing time. I think that 14th March is too early for Autumn Mammoth varieties and I would leave it at least another month if not two.
I see Beryl's point because they were needed for a specific purpose. Beryl would you normally sow them that early for late winter use?
My winter Leeks are always grown in a trench and earthed up as they grow through the season. Other varieties simply go into a dibbed hole and are watered.
JB.

[Chantal]

I've never grown Winter Giant before so you could well be right JB. The strange thing is that it seems to be those on the left side that are bolting and those on the right are just fine. All planted out on the same day.

However, I've just been to the plot and planted out another 30 little leeks that were left over from the original plantings. I found them forgotten in a pot a couple of months ago and just bunged them all into a hole. They're all thick pencil sized now so I've dibbed them all in. I've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Thanks for all your help guys

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Chantal, reading all the useful replies, i think it could be one of those times when it might be a combination of things that have caused your leeks to go to seed.
The most annoying thing about this is that one never really finds out the true cause.

My Winter Giants are really doing well, none gone to seed yet, and they were sown only a few days later than yours.