SPRING A LEEK

Apparently there was a shortage of leeks for St David’s Day this week. Mainly due to more people cooking at home, due to the pandemic – perhaps leek soup is the new banana bread.

I wouldn’t give you thank you for the banana bread, but wouldn’t hesitate to knock you over to get to a bowl of proper home cooked leek soup.

Last springs cold weather resulted in smaller crops too. I always remember Dad saying when he was a boy there were never daffodils out in the garden to pick for the 1st March so they always had to take a leek to school. It was the same for me and my brother a generation later and I still remember smelling of leek for the first week of March!

For the last couple of decades it’s been possible to pick daffs from the garden for St David’s Day but I don’t ever think we expected a leek shortage.

Ever resourceful, why not try to grow your own leek(s) for St David’s Day next year?

Leeks are best suited for growing in open ground, but you could grow several in large, deep containers or raised beds.

Granddad always used to sow his in a seed bed separate from the main veg plot and then transplant them to they’re final position in the summer.

But this was only because he was a prolific grower and used the space on the plot for quick growing veg like radishes and salad crops, rather than for juvenile leeks.

You can sow them straight where they are to grow if you have the room but I prefer to sow in modules indoors now then transplant outdoors later. They’re just easier to keep an eye on that way. Sow one seed per module.