I have been umming and aahing for weeks over sowing leeks. Every different source of information I read gives me varying advice as to when I can plant them – it gets very confusing for a learner vege gardener. I’m not even sure I like leeks but I have become so enthralled with the pleasure of eating our lovely home grown spring onions and red onions that I thought I would continue with the onion family. My pack of mini leek seeds tells me I should have had them sown by early summer – December – but seemingly there are lots of opinions Gardening: The leeks you want – Gardening – NZ Herald News so I’ve decided this morning to go ahead and give it a go. I can always take them in over winter as they will be in pots. On the sowing list this morning was also more baby carrots, spring onions, winter spinach, heritage lettuces from Koanga nursery and mixed variety lettuces. While writing this I am munching away on gorgeous cherry tomatoes (must plant lots more next year!). Everything I have grown over the last year has been from seed – it feels a much greater achievement than buying seedlings from plant shops. I was so proud this morning to see my first 3rd generation lettuce growing happily – grown from seed I collected from lettuces that had self seeded from my first set of lettuce seedlings that I bought two years ago. My mother-in-law has also collected seed from the lettuces I grew for her and has in turn passed extra seed on to her sister. My $3 investment in six lettuce seedlings two years ago has produced at least a hundred lettuces so far and will continue to grow hundreds more for a growing group of people.
