Leek Seedlings, When to Transplant?

[NewBoots]

I've never raised leeks before but I've got seedlings now and it occurs to me I have no idea when they are ready to put out in the raised beds. Frosts are over but I believe leeks are pretty cold hardy anyway, mostly I just need to know if my seedlings are big enough? Anyone know?

 

[pozees2]

I don't see an answer to this but I'm going to guess you you got them planted? They looked ready in the picture. I grew them one year from seed and just direct sowed into the bed, they did very well.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Size doesn't matter per se, as long as they are "hardened off". This means, bring them outside for a few hours each day, gradually increasing their time outside to a whole day. This takes maybe five days or so, just so they don't have transplant shock. You're right, leaks are cold hardy. They can handle light frosts, and maybe one or two hard frosts, but you should try to cover them if possible if a hard frost might happen. I am in gardening zone 6b. I started my onions at the end of January and transplanted them in early April. We've had several light frosts in that period.

 

[NewBoots]

@pozees2 and @humblehillsfarm thanks for responding! Yeah I planted them a couple weeks ago and they're doing fine. The greenhouse I have drops to the ambient temperature at night so I haven't worried about hardening my seedlings off. I didn't know the leeks should be ditch planted like green onions (seems kinda obvious now ) so I've just added more soil to get more light parts.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

@pozees2 and @humblehillsfarm thanks for responding! Yeah I planted them a couple weeks ago and they're doing fine. The greenhouse I have drops to the ambient temperature at night so I haven't worried about hardening my seedlings off. I didn't know the leeks should be ditch planted like green onions (seems kinda obvious now ) so I've just added more soil to get more light parts.

Hardening off has more to do with abuse from wind and rain than temperatures, but since you do have a greenhouse, you can add a fan to the mix to help build stronger stems and then yeah, you wouldn't need to harden off.

 

[NewBoots]

I hope to add power to the greenhouse eventually but you are sure right about the rain and wind. Most of the seedlings are sturdy but the basil and peppers are much more tender.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I hope to add power to the greenhouse eventually but you are sure right about the rain and wind. Most of the seedlings are sturdy but the basil and peppers are much more tender.

I just transplanted all of my tomatoes and tomatillos and one of the tomatillos frequently got wind from the fan, and the other one was not only out of the line of the fan, it also leaned against the wall of the greenhouse for support. When I picked it up both main branches tried to split. It was much more leggy than the other one which was shorter and had a thicker main branch. I caught it in time but I’m not sure now it will make it. This was the first year with my greenhouse and using a fan. I highly recommend it!