Leeks are a popular plant that is loved at the dinner table. However, many people encounter a common problem when growing leeks: the growth of leeks deteriorates after harvesting. To help you with this, I'm going to share five tips to help you grow vigorous and healthy leeks. These are practical tips that have been summed up by my rich experience. Let's take a look.
Leeks need plenty of nutrients** to keep them growing vigorously. When growing leeks, we recommend topdressing after each harvest. Although the fertilizer is simple, the taste of leeks will be relatively poor. In contrast, farmyard manure, especially sheep manure, is the best fertilizer choice. Sheep manure is rich in organic matter, which can promote the development of the root system and make the leeks grow green and thick. In the process of topdressing, we can make a ditch between the two rows of leeks and apply fertilizer, which can improve the nutrient utilization efficiency.
Leeks are perennial plants, but generally after four or five years of planting, the yield and quality of leeks will decline significantly. This is because the root system of leeks ages and becomes entangled, resulting in a decrease in nutrient uptake. At this time, we can dig out the old leek roots and transplant them again, so that the leeks can be rejuvenated. The specific method is to dig up the roots of old leeks in the non-frozen soil, and select the land that has not been planted with leeks for transplanting. Before transplanting, pay attention to cutting short fibrous root ends, which can prevent leek nests and promote root regeneration.
When planting leeks that have been transplanted that year, try not to harvest them too early. This promotes the accumulation of nutrients to the roots and enhances the growth of leeks. Harvesting the leaves of a leek may reduce the ability to accumulate nutrients and sometimes even cause the whole plant to not continue growing. Especially in summer, leeks are easy to flower and set seeds, so removing the flowers in time can avoid the waste of nutrients and promote the healthy growth of leeks.
Leeks are the main pests of leeks during the growth process, which will eat the bulbs of leeks, causing the leaves to turn yellow, weaken and even die. Therefore, when planting leeks, it is very important to pay attention to the control of leek maggots. A simple way is to sprinkle plant ash on the roots after the leeks are harvested, which effectively prevents the growth of leek maggots. In case of serious damage from leeks, you can consider using trichlorfon and other agents to irrigate roots and kill insects.
As leeks grow, new roots continue to grow from the base of the bulb disk, and over time, the roots gradually emerge from the surface, forming the so-called "root-skipping" phenomenon. When the root system is exposed to the surface, the water absorption and nutrient absorption capacity of the leeks will be reduced, resulting in poor growth of leeks. To avoid this, we can soil the leeks once a year. Be careful not to bury the leaf sheath of the leek. By cultivating soil, the soil can be loosened, the root system can be protected, and the regeneration ability of leeks can be improved. If you use a pot or foam box to grow leeks, you can sprinkle a layer of fine soil about 3 cm thick inside the container to prevent the leeks from jumping to the roots.
It takes some skill and effort to grow high-quality leeks, but if you master the five tips above, you will be able to grow green and thick leeks. Remember to apply sufficient fertilizer, transplant aging leeks in time, harvest and control leeks reasonably, and carry out timely soil cultivation. These tips will help you enjoy a good quality of leeks and hopefully help you grow them.