Re: Leeks?

[nancy1340]

One of the best ways to cook leeks is to split them down longways, rinse well (lots of dirt in them) and spin dry. Saute in olive oil and butter untill tender. Salt to taste. You only use the white and very light green part.

They also make a wonderful cream soup.

Add cooked leeks to mashed potatoes.

Delish!

[Faye]

I was thinking about leeks the other day and wondering if I could grow them here in hot, humid Bama. I've never tried but if anyone knows if they will grow here let me know please. Deb, please let us know how yours do.

[AlchemyAcres]

I've grown them a couple different ways, trenching and mulching.
Trenching will give you a longer blanched area and often a bigger leek, but it's alota work and grit can be more of a problem.
I work the ground 10-12 inches deep....dig a trench 6-7 inches deep..add a bit of compost to the bottom of the trench and work it in....I plant each leek about 10 inches apart in trenches about 2 feet apart....plant in a 2 inch deep hole made with dibble or whatever....work about an inch of soil into the trench every 3-4 weeks if the rain hasn't already......before I work soil around them the first time I lightly wrap each leek with a peice of 8 inch waxed paper that's been folded over, folded side up...it'll help keep grit/dirt out, expanding as the leek grows.

In recent years I've planted leeks in a 2 inch deep dibbled hole at ground level....adding a bit of mulch every couple weeks...the mulch must be very finely chopped to block out light and have the blanching effect...the fine mulch pretty much eliminates the grit problem and helps retain moisture.

~Martin :)

[Faye]

Martin, will they grow in the deep south?

[AlchemyAcres]

Yes...

I have friends in Florida who start the seeds in summer and plant the seedlings out in fall.

~Martin :)

[Faye]

Thanks Martin. I will get some seed and start them in July and we shall see how it goes.

[bookwormom]

back home we grew a lot of leeks, I always used the trenching method as we like long white shafts. Leeks like a lot of manure. at home we leave them out in winter and harvest as needed. I had a neighbor who ate the white roots, too. chopping them up like chives. I never tried that though.