Advice for growing leeks?

I am in northwest Florida and have a pot of young leeks ready to separate and plant. I have had minimal success with leeks in the past. They never got big like grocery store leeks. I am an organic gardener and need advice on "beefing-up" this veggie. Any suggestions?

 

they need nitrogen,so buy some organic pateurised chicken manure pellets and digem in well,remember too that spacing is criticle keep them a foot from each other in any direction.

As i am none too familliar with the growing seasons there its hard to say wether you have left it a bit late in the year to getem in,here i would want them in by september at the latest so they have the warmth and longer sunshine hours to grow.

i am an award winning veg grower and that would be my best recommendation.

 

Try square foot gardening

Try square foot gardening your leeks, 2 leeks per square foot, 6 inches apart from each other..or metric equivalent. Attend to the leek’s ph requirements, fertilize at the appropriate stages of the growing cycle, and compost and mulch……good luck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Lu-7FIj_g
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_foot_gardening
http://www.beginner-gardening.com/square-foot-gardening.html
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicgardening/gh_sqft.php
http://timssquarefootgarden.com/

 

Thank you for your replies!!!

Thanks to all for the link, advice and video. I am going to start next year in September but for now, I will have to take whatever I get.
Thanks again!

 

I would recommend using a trench technique for growing leeks. Basically dig a trench 6-8" deep and plant leek seeds in it. Then as they grow, you simply fill in the trench. Not only does this keep the stalks white, it also helps them overwinter as the portion below ground will be warmer than the surface. However, leeks are quite hardy (and slow growing) so keeping them alive shouldn't be a problem. Leeks are a great plant that once established will continue to live and reproduce, making a nice low maintenance edible. To read more detailed instructions about growing leeks read this article at Edible Garden Northwest.

 

Thanks for posting

That's a nice site, EG, with a lot of useful information...thank you for posting...have added the website to my favourites list.