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Growing Leeks

(allium porrum)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
	S	S	P	P	P

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

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

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 - 6 inches apart
Harvest in 15-18 weeks.
Compatible with: Carrots

Almost ready to use
Leek

A member of the onion family. Looks rather like a large scallion or spring onion Grow in seed trays or punnets until about 20cm (8in) tall. They look rather like large blades of grass at that stage. Then plant out into trenches or individual deep holes. The aim is to blanch the stems while the plants are growing. Trenches should be about 20-25cm (8-10in) deep. Set the seedlings 10-15 cm (4 - 6in) apart then add enough soil to just cover the roots. As the plants grow fill the trench. Otherwise - make holes with a dibble or suitable stick 15 cm (6 in) deep and 3-4 cm (1.5 - 2 in) wide. Drop a seedling in each and water enough to cover the roots with soil. As they grow, watering will gradually fill the hole.

Leeks prefer moist clay soils. Keep soil moist and loose, mulch will help.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Leeks

Trim off the roots and any damaged leaves.
Young ones can be used whole with some of the green leaves
Wash thoroughly as the earth tends to get inside.
Chop and fry in butter (or olive oil) until tender.
Can be added to casserole meals, allowing time to cook through.
Leek and mushroom make a tasty combination for a tart filling.

Your comments and tips

18 Mar 13, Gayle (Australia - temperate climate): What is meant by blanching the stems while the leek is growing.
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20 Mar 13, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Blanching means that the bottom of the stems end up white and edible, instead of going green and tough.
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20 Mar 13, Kevin (Australia - temperate climate): Gayle, it is the method of protecting the lower part of the stem from the sun . This results in a more tender stem when eaten! Different methods can be used suggest you google Stem Blanching and read our Brisbane Annette MacFarland article.
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09 Feb 13, Maree (Australia - temperate climate): If you plant your leeks in spring or late winter, they will tend to want to bolt to seed in the warmer months. I suggest planting them in autumn, and they will grow slowly through winter. They should be a good size when the warmer weather arrives, so you can then harvest them before they go to seed.
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15 Jan 13, Mick (Australia - sub-tropical climate): My leeks are into their 2nd year some nearing the end of their lifespan.Use cut and come again method. The extreme heat has sent some to seed., Keep weeds out, I grow clovers amongst em and put in plenty of mushroom compost in soil at start nothing else just water
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15 Dec 12, Beverley (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have the same problem as Taryn, leeks small and flowering. Could anyone please comment and offer helpful suggestions.
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10 Dec 12, taryn (Australia - sub-tropical climate): my leks seem to have gone to flower before reaching a good width. are they still eatable?
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23 Dec 12, Sue (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Once the leek flowers there will be a woody stem going right down to the root which makes it largely inedible. You can eat from around the flower stem but it's not the best.
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20 Nov 12, Terry Parker (Australia - temperate climate): Having had a hard rubbish collection recently, I obtained some vacuum cleaner hose and cut into 15-20cm lengths to blanch the leeks. They can even be split and retain rigidity around the leeks.
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03 Oct 12, Stella (Australia - temperate climate): I planted my leek seeds around 3 weeks ago in polystyrene boxes... But they r not growing at all.. Not even seedlings have appeared..:-/ is thr any way I could save them.. Does putting like a cover later at night like a plastic would help them germinate faster as I normally don't grow in seed trays... Any ideas to save my plants would be highly appreciated:)
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Post a question, comment or tip about Leeks

Replying to:

Something I recently found out about leeks - maybe everyone else already knows this: Instead of harvesting by pulling up the entire plant, you can just cut it off close to the ground (I use strong kitchen scissors) and the leek plant just keeps growing. It ready for its next harvest sooner than waiting for another plant to grow from seed :-)

- Barb

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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