Growing Leeks

allium porrum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S S                  
      T T              
      P P P            

(Best months for growing Leeks in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 4 - 8 inches apart
  • Harvest in 15-18 weeks. Loosen with a fork rather than pull by hand..
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots

Your comments and tips

04 Mar 10, Wendy (Australia - tropical climate)
I'm trying to grow leeks in a full tropical climate. As our winter/dry season is more like summer in a temperate zone, this year I'll try planting out as soon as the rain diminishes then plant maybe six every two weeks or so. We have an aquaponics system also which I plan to try leek in this winter. Wish me luck.
21 Mar 10, sandy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I planted my leeks about 2 weeks ago I have never grown them before is this the right time?? I'm not really understanding how you should plant them? Can someone help me please!!
15 Apr 10, (Australia - temperate climate)
leeks are also great in soup
18 Jul 10, Yvonne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Gee. So many growing questions, so few answers. I have planted my seedlings in a well prepared garden 2 weeks ago they are going well, standing up but off course still looking rather delicate. I am going to blanch them with cane mulch as they grow. By all accounts, harveting in November. We'll see how it goes. I will let you know.
28 Jul 10, darren (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have found a leek growing in my garden from last summer and it is absolutely huge forgot to pick it.Beginning to feel its part of the family.Funny thing is it hasnt or didnt go to seed can anyone tell me when this may happen .Its probably to tough to eat but I can at least get seeds for this season.
28 Jul 10, (Australia - temperate climate)
I would leave it to go to seed, then grow lots more! It sounds like a really good variety to propagate with such good 'holding' in the ground.
04 Aug 10, Matt (Australia - temperate climate)
I just read that they are biennial so take two growing seasons to produce seed. google Annette McFarlane for her article on leeks.
19 Sep 10, sarah (Australia - temperate climate)
I grow leeks every year and mound them up as they grow to blanch the flesh. with the soil from each slide of the row and straw on top, so they end up on a ridge with the trench down the side. I water in the trench when required. I dont seem to have trouble with them going to flower and only finished harvesting last years crop a month ago. Now planting the next lot. Delicious, blanched wrapped in ham and then topped with a cheese sauce and a crumb topping in the oven.
15 Nov 10, Yvonne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Wow! How time flies! My last post was July 18th and I said I would get back to you in Nov. with my leek progress. Well I blanched them with cane mulch as I said I would, and when they were about eight inches high I started blanching with shredded newspaper. (I have a shredder) Well the newspaper worked really well after the initial cane mulch. The leeks are now tall and strong but not thick enough for harvesting. So I have blanched twice with cane mulch, once when I first put the seedlings in and again about four weeks later, about four weeks after that I blanched with newspaper and again two weeks ago. Thanks for the info about the flowers, I hadn't thought that far ahead yet. I will get beck to you when I harvest my first leek. Cheers
02 Jan 11, Chris Morton (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My leeks have started to develop seed heads. At the same time they are also producing little bulbs off the side of the main bulb in the soil. These bulbs will be very numerous and can (I think) be used to produce the next season's crop. This assumption is based on how we have used the many bulbs found growing in the vegie garden we have inhertited. Are these normal leeks? Do people normally use these bulbs to produce the next crop? Would love to know more about growing leeks.
Showing 21 - 30 of 140 comments

Why have my leeks all gone hard and woody inside. They are beginning to flower but are still quite thin and woody

- Deb

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