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Post by stevil on Nov 21, 2009 11:21:27 GMT -5
I've grown a Norwegian Leek variety for seed for the first time this year. I noticed today that it's multiplied from the root like closely related Allium ampeloprasum cultivars. Does this often happen with Leeks?  |
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Post by mjc on Nov 21, 2009 12:05:51 GMT -5
I've found that given enough time, most leeks will form a 'clump'...multiply from the root.
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Post by PatrickW on Nov 21, 2009 12:11:53 GMT -5
I've seen this too. Lieven and I had a conversation about this a few years ago. He noticed this in some leeks I think he was trying to breed. I think it's fairly common.
Another way to describe this is 'bulbing', and since most people want a single root without bulbing, I think the trick when breeding leeks is to breed away from this.
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Post by orflo on Nov 21, 2009 12:25:03 GMT -5
This is actually a method that's applied in a Swiss botanical garden and probably in other places where they want to preserve old varieties. the let the leeks form a flowerbud, and cut this before the actual flowering begins. The leek doesn't 'waste' energy to form seeds, but actually produces some small side bulbs, which can be used for replanting and the variety stays true-to-type. I've tried it on several varieties, and it works each time, it could also be useful for selecting stronger and healthier leeks.
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Post by mjc on Nov 21, 2009 13:07:52 GMT -5
It's a lot like growing garlic from bulbils...the first year will be a 'round', then a small head, until finally a large head with large cloves.
I haven't seen it on first year leeks, though. I have mine more or less growing 'perennially', where I dig a few to eat (not big leek eaters, my family) and let the rest go...every so often dividing the clumps. I'm trying a couple of different ones this year and next...
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Post by ottawagardener on Nov 21, 2009 13:11:12 GMT -5
I've heard of this before too. It's a recommended 'trick' in some obscure gardening books. In one source they were called 'pearl' leeks and another referred to them as offsets.
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Post by stevil on Nov 21, 2009 14:55:25 GMT -5
Thanks, all!
This leek is an old Norwegian variety that we're trying to preserve.
If I take these offsets and grow them on will they flower next year or in two years? I mean, is this a quick way also of producing seed?
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Post by mjc on Nov 21, 2009 16:36:56 GMT -5
Yes...they should.
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Post by stevil on Nov 28, 2009 9:08:06 GMT -5
Probably a question to Patrick. Have you come across the Indonesian 'Anak prei' in the Netherlands, a form of Allium ampeloprasum?
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Post by toad on Dec 9, 2009 15:27:39 GMT -5
Remember to have enough genetic different plants for breeding, to avoid a genetic bottleneck.
I know a farmer, who maintain a leek variety, by having enough individuals to havest seeds. But he avoid growing new generations, by letting them bulb as they mature seeds. He just keep an eye, that he doesn't loose any individual in his seed producing stock, thus avoiding the risk of ending in producing seed from too few clones.
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Post by PatrickW on Dec 10, 2009 1:22:07 GMT -5
Stephen,
Sorry, I didn't see your post before. I've never heard of the Anak Prei. The local seed company that might have something like that doesn't seem to carry it. I would be interesting in trying it, if you ever locate some...
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Post by extremegardener on Jan 5, 2010 10:52:56 GMT -5
I had some Lyon Prizetakers that bolted in 2008 and one plant had two big bulbs . I set the bulbs out to overwinter, and they were some of the best (and easiest) leeks I've ever grown. This fall I harvested the leeks to eat by cutting about an inch above ground level, and left the rest in the ground to see what they'll do next year. I really like propagating alliums via bulbs/offsets versus by seed.  |
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Post by ottawagardener on Jan 5, 2010 13:11:25 GMT -5
EG: I take it you don't have leek moth or if you do, then I need tips to keep them at bay. My leeks were entirely wiped out.
I have gotten a leek to flower before after buying it from the grocery store, cutting it to within 2 inches of the bottom, setting it in the ground and watering it. I have great hope for leek growing in the future as my present attemps have ended in leek moth failure. Other alliums don't suffer as much.
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Post by mjc on Jan 5, 2010 13:44:47 GMT -5
I've done that with onions, too...it seems to only take a small amount of the root end to get it to grow.
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Post by extremegardener on Jan 10, 2010 11:42:09 GMT -5
EG: I take it you don't have leek moth or if you do, then I need tips to keep them at bay. My leeks were entirely wiped out. I have gotten a leek to flower before after buying it from the grocery store, cutting it to within 2 inches of the bottom, setting it in the ground and watering it. I have great hope for leek growing in the future as my present attemps have ended in leek moth failure. Other alliums don't suffer as much. OG - Yikes, never heard of leek moth! Leeks are the most bullet proof allium for us - a. cepas tend to get fungus/disease. I'm psyched about eating my leeks and having seed/bulb parents too. The cool thing is that the part you take off to eat would have gotten destroyed by freezing/thawing anyway, so you're not really robbing the potential parents. |
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