Leek offsets?

I just harvested my first-ever leek (and boy was I proud of it!) and noticed that it had several offsets. Not knowing what to do (and just the parent leek was more than what I needed), I went ahead and replanted the offsets. Did I do good in getting a jump on my next crop, or am I better off just digging them back up and using them?

I was actually pretty amazed--I had forgotten to plant the original leek deep, but it still worked its way at least 6" down into the soil. Digging it up was more of an adventure than I would've guessed!

Thanks for any advice!

I have no idea if the babies will keep growing but you have my attention and admiration for growing a member of the onion family in the heat of summer.

Around here, people plant onion sets and garlic beginning in September and they bolt by the end of April. I feel cheated that I have no green onions for summer salads. I'd love to hear your secrets.

Leeks are so much better because they are slow growers. I love them better than green onions or any other member of the onion family. They are so good raw on salads!

twiggybuds, this is definitely a "beginner's luck" sort of thing. This summer is my first real attempt at growing anything other than tomatoes, and I kinda went a little nuts. I started these guys from seed in January, I think, planted them out in early March, then just ignored them. They kept growing and growing... and finally I started to see the outer leaves brown out, so I decided it was time. My bunching onions just gave up the ghost, and I pulled most and replanted a few in the hopes that they'll take off again. I also have one green onion where I tried to pull it, the top broke off, and now it's coming back from the base...

Made chicken barley soup last night with my leek--the tastiest chicken barley soup ever! :)

Beginners luck indeed!!! It's clear that I'm not nearly as smart as I thought I was.

I've seen leeks at the grocery store and that's the extent of it. I have read that they're milder than onions and have problems with grit getting trapped in the leaves so decided they weren't something I needed. You just killed all my preconceived notions.

I definitely need some leeks ASAP. If they make it in your zone 9 through the summer they'd be a joy to me. I'm also amazed that you got something so quickly from seed. I'm off to study leeks and figure out where I can get some seeds and maybe sets. Old dogs can learn new tricks.

"You just killed all my preconceived notions."

Same here. For some reason, I was thinking that leeks had a cabbagey taste to them. If they're more oniony, I'll have to give them another try.

Oh, no, indy_v, no cabbage-y taste at all... mild onion flavor, not nearly as strong as a yellow or white variety. Extremely yummy in soups! Also freezes well once sliced, then you can just shake out the amount you need for whatever you're doing.

twiggybuds, there is some grit caught in the junctions where the leaves come from the main stem (I'm sure those aren't the right terms, but it's the best I can do), and they do need a little care in cleaning. For me, not a big deal since the flavor is worth it. Here we're told leeks are a cool-weather crop; plant anywhere from end of September through March. These could've been pulled any time for a while now, and there's still another one out there that isn't quite as big, and isn't browning out yet, so I'm leaving it in the garden for a bit longer. (I did start with more than just 2, but my "garden helpers" accidentally pulled some of the babies, thinking they were grass. Only 2 survived the carnage...)

Awsome Tjill! I've wanted to try growing them, and just have forgotten. I don't think I have ever seen starters available around here, have you? Seeds are the primary option it seems.

I haven't seen the sets here, Sonoita, although I also have to say I haven't really looked.

And, thanks! :)

Jill can you remember what the variety was you planted. I did a search on here and read most of the old threads, followed some links that dealt with how to grow them. It looks like some handle heat better than others but no names were mentioned. It's looking like I will need to order some seeds.

I'd like to plant a few every month to try to keep a fresh supply coming in especially through the hot months. I do that with green onion sets but have to do without for 6 months of the year.

I'm so glad you posted this. I still can barely comprehend how anything survives in the desert, let alone alliums in July. Baby steps toward freedom from the grocery store. hehe.

I still have the package, twiggybuds, but it's not much help. They came from the rack at my local nursery, from the "Botanical Interests" company, and are just labeled as follows:

"Leek (Allium ampeloprassum porrum)
120 days, cool season crop-plant early spring or late summer
Heirloom: This sweet, mild onion relative won't overpower other flavors in a dish. A staple in European kitchens for centuries" There is a lovely artists' rendition of leeks on the outside of the package that does look remarkably like what I dug up, so I can rule out some of the cultivars in PlantFiles that look nothing similar, but not enough info to make a positive ID. I did email the company (their web page is www.botanicalinterests.com) to see if they'll tell me what it is that I've got. I'm curious myself!

And, as to your question about anything surviving in the desert: irrigation, irrigation, irrigation! :) It helps that the alliums are in a bed that gets light shade most of the day, too. I also had some luck (at least, the first year, we'll see if they come back up next spring) with Schubert's onions, an ornamental allium, but the Purple Sensation alliums were a total bust. Oh, well, you win some you lose some, and I'd rather have the edibles! And, remember what I said about beginner's luck? Next year may be a whole 'nother story...

I'm still not sure, though, if I did a good thing or not by replanting the offsets?

I just got a (very pleasant!) email back from someone at Botanical Interests. For 2008, they sold "Carentan", an heirloom from 1885. They're out of stock on that particular cultivar until the new crop comes in late '08 or early '08, but will have "American Flag" in the meantime. Apparently they don't list the cultivar because of problems getting a consistent supply of organic leek seed... who'da thunk?

So, Carentan it is!

Thanks for following up. It is so much better to start with something tried and true. I wanted the seeds for September and will try to find them somewhere else. If that fails, I can try something else this fall and order from them in '09.

Also I appreciate the tip about growing in light shade. I think that will make all the difference and I've been scoping out where to put them. I'm seriously considering some shade cloth. I know most everything would enjoy it.

Congrats on your success, tucsonJill! I'm a "leek freak", too!

For those of you who can't find seeds, or shy away from seed starting, Dixondale Farms (in Texas) sells leek plants. I've ordered from them for years and they've always sent healthy/happy plants. I don't think they are available right now (probably sold out this late in the year) but are normally offered around December though May.

Someone above mentioned the grit inbetween the leaves, that often happens with commercial crops that are hilled with machinery. The hillers tend to throw the dirt into the leaf tops. However, if you (like me) hill them up by hand you can keep any dirt from getting down in the leave crevices. A few years (this year being one of them) I "hilled" with leaves; that not only helped blanch a much longer stalk but also held the moisture in the soil really great!

Hope ya'll get a chance to grow some!

Best to All,
Shoe

Oh yeh...here is the link to Dixondale Farms if ya'll would like to read up on their offerings:

http://www.dixondalefarms.com/

Shoe

Thanks, Shoe! And thanks for the link; always nice to have an alternative. And I'm thinking of trying some other onions next year; looks like they have some good varieties and they're marked long/short day as well!

I did have some problem with grit in the leaves, but most of that is because it's so darn dry and dusty around here, and then little spent flowers off the mesquite trees get blown around, and those leeks are just such a splendid catchment for all that little stuff. Not nearly as bad a mess as the commercial ones, as you pointed out, Shoe, but still needed some extra cleaning. Well worth it, though!

I hear ya, Jill. Even with my "careful hilling" I get a bit of grit from time to time. I've found it's easiest to clean by cutting the leek in half lengthwise then gently fan the layers open while holding it under running water.

I've heard that some folks will cut the root end and the green top off, stick the leeks in a glass of water and the grit is supposed to 'bubble out'. I've never done it that way but if you try it let us know how it works, okay?

Best,
Shoe