![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9u6DoLV15jDCUFAT1Rjlj9g43A_dPDKtmoUo7eVO1vRMzXDOCwAtArk_p7idgUkHqLfLH7KYWY87oxhUi5kLUEeyxbPzWMvDOY3bEBFhgqGincWt6r2ClYMR-_DClYv2MSLdond2MtK4/s400/Pot_of_leeks.jpg)
The raised bed was prepared for the leeks by using a dibble and preparing large, deep holes in the bed, 5/square.
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The pot of leeks was dumped out and individual plants were separated, carefully teasing apart the entwined roots.
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A leek plant was then inserted into each hole. The trick was to get the plant and its roots into the bottom of the hole. Trying to use fingers or a stick to accomplish this tended to break the roots. I finally took the plant by its stem and pushed it down into the hole. The plant stems were stiff enough to accomplish this. The result was a plant with its roots at the bottom of a large hole. The soil will eventually fill in after several waterings and the result will be a leek with a long blanched white stem without trenching or hilling. I also planted a closely space row of these between the squares to pull as baby leeks.
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Shallots were next but I did not bother to photograph them. This year I tried Conservor since Ambition is showing very poor storage life. Germination was fine but their longevity in pot was disappointing. It looked like they were going dormant. I do not have high hopes of these. I really miss the Saffron shallots which were ideal for my conditions and stored forever.
Next was the Purplette onions from Johnnys, a small-bulbed onion with a lavender blush used for fresh onions. These were robust germinators and growers and I had a beautiful pot of them to transplant.
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I allocated two squares to these, planted 16/square. I plan to pull every other one first, allowing the remaining onions to get a bit larger. That space allotment only used half the onions. The rest will be tucked into corners here and there in the garden and pulled as fresh onions.
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All of the alliums are now planted, a bit late but it is done. Next goal is to get the brassicas into the ground, cabbages/kohlrabi first, then the kale and broccoli.
That's crazy that the leeks took so long to germinate. Good for you for persevering. The leeks and onions look nice and healthy, I imagine they will take off and grow really quickly.
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