Another failure in the garden - Leeks

This year I tried to plant leeks for the first time. They are usually very long to grow but for some reason they really did not grew well at all. Maybe it's the hot dry summer that stunted them. I'll try to plant another batch for winter garden and see if they'll do better in the hoop house.
At any rate, all these will be used - all 3 lbs of them. They'll get chopped and frozen for winter soups and stews. I'll keep green parts for making stock as well.
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16 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 25, 2012 at 4:49 PM

    I have not yet harvest my leeks, should start. I mulch with a thick layer of leaves to prevent the ground from freezing and harvest as needed.

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    1. Jenny RottingerSeptember 25, 2012 at 4:55 PM

      I will try that with the winter garden and hope it works.

      Delete
  2. David VeltenSeptember 25, 2012 at 5:54 PM

    Maybe you harvested them too soon? You're in NJ, plenty of time left. I have harvested leeks after the ground has frozen up here in MA. Then again, last year my leeks did worse than yours, they looked like scallions.

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    1. Jenny RottingerSeptember 25, 2012 at 6:34 PM

      I had to pull them out and peel quite a few layers as they were getting yellow and dry and didn't grow any bigger for quite a while.

      Delete
  3. UnknownSeptember 25, 2012 at 6:51 PM

    My leeks look very similar in size. Still tasty, but not much yield to work with.

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  4. UnknownSeptember 25, 2012 at 9:02 PM

    I live in the Pacific Northwest - in western Oregon to be exact - and here we plant our leeks in the winter and harvest in March/April. Now that I see you live in NJ, you have a different climate, but maybe the fall/winter harvest will be better?

    P.S. I have been following your blog all summer and dying over your tomato harvest. WOW!

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    1. Jenny RottingerSeptember 26, 2012 at 5:50 AM

      I just seeded leeks last night so hopefully they'll grow by spring. And thank you, I enjoyed my tomato season very much.

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  5. nutmeg gardenerSeptember 26, 2012 at 4:48 AM

    Mine are small this year too, but they are just as good in potato leek soup. I leave mine out and just harvest as needed. I use the green part to make a very tasty vegetable broth that I freeze and use for vegetarian cooking.

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    1. Jenny RottingerSeptember 26, 2012 at 5:49 AM

      That's what I do with leeks too - potato leek soup and broth from greens. I will try it again in winter garden.

      Delete
  6. Liz - Suburban TomatoSeptember 26, 2012 at 5:06 AM

    I find leeks frustratingly slow too. I think I'll give up on them from now on and buy them at the market and use the space for something more productive. It is frustrating though because I love leeks.

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    1. Jenny RottingerSeptember 26, 2012 at 5:50 AM

      I love cooking with leeks as they're milder than regular onions so I'll give it another try.

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  7. ChristySeptember 26, 2012 at 10:02 AM

    I have never eaten a leek but I think I am going to try it in next year's garden. I just need to figure out what to do with them!

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    1. Jenny RottingerSeptember 26, 2012 at 10:33 AM

      They are very versatile - I use them in soups, in stir-fry, with roasting veggies and chicken, in broth etc.

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  8. TSSeptember 27, 2012 at 5:01 PM

    I definitely share the same thought on the leeks. It was my first year, too. Your leeks are actually much fatter than my scallion size leeks though!. I do love the taste though. I chopped them all up and froze them in a ziploc. I've been using a table spoon of it almost everyday in my miso soup.

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  9. Malay-Kadazan girlSeptember 28, 2012 at 5:35 AM

    Oh I think your leek look good for a first timer. The growth do slow down during hot months.

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