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Post by templeton on Apr 4, 2014 18:29:50 GMT -5
Was cleaning a big mixed pile of dried leek seed heads last week, and amongst the chaff found half a dozen little bulbils that must have come from the seed heads. Anyone have any info on top setting characteristic in leeks? I've planted the poor dried up things, looks like at least one has started to shoot. I'm wondering whether this is even a useful characteristic, given the amount of seed leeks produce, and for vegetative propagation, there's the basal bulbs that form in profusion on good lines of perennial leeks. Might be an interesting curio, tho.
t
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Post by flowerweaver on Apr 4, 2014 22:43:35 GMT -5
I'm growing Babbington topset leeks for the first time this year. They came as bulbils and I'm growing them in flats first. They are just big enough to plant out now.
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Post by ottawagardener on Apr 5, 2014 7:59:16 GMT -5
I have noticed that leeks will produce bulbils if the flowerhead is damaged. It is a way that some leek growers produce clones.
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Post by Al on Aug 23, 2014 7:18:20 GMT -5
I believe leek growers leave the flower to maturity & collect the seed. Then leave the flower to develop pods (mini plants). Before winter the flower head is cut & stored in a dry, frost free place until Spring when the pods can be planted. Apparently they keep well even without any water, just surviving on the flower. Al
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Post by Al on Aug 30, 2014 2:52:13 GMT -5
An item on the T.V. last night, (The Beechgrove Garden) had exhibition leeks which had been allowed to flower. And half the flower had been 'shaved' to stimulate production of plantlets. I have seen these offshoots referred to as: bulbils, pods, pips, & grass.
My leek flowers are heavy with seed capsules at the moment so there is barely any space for a pip to develop. I guess the shaving of half the little flower stalks let's light in & the loss of the flowers kickstarts the plant into reproductive 'plan B', so dormant pip buds start to grow.
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