I'm not sure what you are asking, or what you're planning to do. Are you hilling soil around the base of the plants to blanch the shanks? If so, you need all those wrapper leaves intact, to help keep out soil.

Are the leeks 18 inches tall? If so they are approaching an intense growth period and need moisture more than trimming. If the leaves are 18 inches long, you should start pulling leeks and eating them. Spring-grown leeks don't hold like they do in the fall.

Yes. Hilling up planatus. They're still away off from harvest. I was just wondering if trimming the leaves some to have shorter but more upright leaves will help growth at all and make hilling up a bit easier.

Kevin

I'm with Planatus, don't cut any leaves. They are there for a reason, photosynthesis.

When were these leeks planted that they are 18" tall now?
From seed or start?

Madroneb: They were started in a seed tray around November, then transplanted a couple months ago.

Ok.. so, no trimming.

Thanks

Kevin

Exciting. I never heard of seeding leeks at that timing, but I never lived in So Cal.

I look forward to updates.

-Mark

This post was edited by madroneb on Tue, Mar 19, 13 at 14:53

I don't hill mine up because the leeks stay much cleaner if allowed to grow as they will. In my climate, summer leeks have to come in early anyway. If left in the ground too long will rupture out the sides as they try to divide.

The white part of the leek is the prized part and if you don't hill you just get the tough green leaves and not enough usable material for your money, imho, of course.