637888 Mon Jul 20 05:46:42 -0700 2009 4 62 Gardening 0 4873358 Until yesterday one of my consolations this miserable season in northern New England was my bed of beautiful, sized-up, healthy leeks. Sob. Apparently they mistook June for winter (geez, how'd that happen). I'd always written off bolted leeks (inedibly woody) but thanks to the internets, found a semi-fix: the minute you see the bulblet poking its way up, harvest the leek. (It can sit in the fridge for a while.) Slit lengthwise, remove and discard the solid core (easy--it's the part with no layers) and use the rest. Now I have chopped cooked leeks in the freezer a few months ahead of schedule. I'm not happy but some leeks is better than no leeks. H/t to http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/3161 Like she says, don't try cooking the inner core (I did, just to see; don't). As the scape is just an extension of that core I figured it was the same and dumped them. I'll experiment with cutting leeks at ground level and trying to get a 2nd crop from the resprouted roots. Didn't think of it this time. Mon Jul 20 05:46:42 -0700 2009 10400 Aromatherapy 1 4875308 Good tip! Looking forward to hearing about the further experiments. Mon Jul 20 15:37:34 -0700 2009 4873358 18802 mudster 1 4910241 I did cut leeks off close to the roots and leave in the ground. So far, 1-2 weeks later, they are showing a couple inches of new growth. We shall see. Sun Aug 02 05:26:36 -0700 2009 4873358 10400 Aromatherapy 2 5099894 Hey, this worked! The new growth turned into leeks. They're not the plump stately beauties I lost, but what the heck. I'd have a bigger crop if I hadn't shillyshallied around praying for a miracle instead of chopping them all off at ground level when the bolting started. Haven't kept that close an eye on them but I bet the largest (which are good-sized) are the ones I amputated first. Sherri, thanks for the core tip, I have a bagful in the freezer now. Tue Oct 13 10:47:29 -0700 2009 4910241 10400 Aromatherapy 1 4911444 Instead of tossing the woody core of bolted leeks and some garlic, I included them in stock and was pleasantly surprised. They add their own flavor to the pot. Sun Aug 02 15:57:59 -0700 2009 4873358 15743 Sherri