They will probably have a flower stalk forming within the layers. You can use them but you will want to cut out the flower stem as it will be woody and tough. You could leave a couple to flower and then collect your own seed.

When the flower stalk is young (not yet sticking out above the leaves, it cooks up soft, but with a different texture from the layered leaves. As it gets older, it needs longer cooking to become soft. When close to blooming it takes hours, but that's fine if, for example you put it in beans while they cook.

I leave the best leeks to set seed (one leek makes zillions) and stir-fry the rest, then put them in the freezer. They are good until this time next year :).

That's interesting NilaJones - I always remove the flower stalk as I find it too fibrous, even when well down in the leaves. Maybe I'll try again.

I pulled some yesterday, they are a bit thicker than last fall but not showing signs of bolting yet. I am also z7 despite my mislabeled handle.

I left a couple of my leeks from year before last in the ground just to see the seed stalks--and were they impressive! I saved the seed and those now-4"-high babies will go into the garden this year!
Last season's leeks (I left 2 again) do not seem to have survived the winter--though I have not checked for a couple of weeks.

I have found those clumps of leeks in my garden. I assumed that they were volunteers from the flower i left. I tried separating them in the spring to re-plant. They never seem to grow into big fat leeks... is there a way to get them to grow? What can i do with them?

Papush, separate them and give each plant room to grow....start with them 2 or 3 inches apart and then thin out baby leeks to give a 6 to 8 inch spacing for those left to grow large. Leeks, like most onion relatives need quite a bit of nitrogen to grow well. Be sure to fertilize them a few times while they are growing.

done that for 3 years. doesnt work. I can grow excellent leeks from seeds. Just not sure what is going on with these mystery clumps.