Growing Leeks

allium porrum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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

(Best months for growing Leeks in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed

April: Leeks need moist soil throughout their growth.

  • 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

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22 Feb 19, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Look up some varieties on the net and pick one and try it.
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08 Feb 19, Charlotte (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have grown leeks but found that they often have a hard inedible inner stalk when harvested. What have I done wrong?
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11 Feb 19, Oliver (Australia - temperate climate)
Have you let them flower? My experience is once they send up that flower stalk.. that is the woody centre stalk. You need to harvest before this happens. Otherwise you just have to slice along the leek and pull this stalk out and use the softer outside bits in a stew or tart. Leek and fetta tarts are awesome:)
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10 Feb 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Could be dryness. Try and have a consistent soil moisture. Check plant and harvest times.
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10 Nov 18, Leeanne newnam (Australia - temperate climate)
When do leeks go in and how long till they harvest, is it summer or winter?
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12 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Read the notes here - it is all there. I'd suggest you plant them in Autumn and pick them about 5 mths later.
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10 Sep 18, Gail (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When do I plant leeks on the mid North coast?
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25 Sep 18, Graham (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted leeks in April at wauchope on the mid north coast and they were slow at first but have done very well since. We had plenty of frosts in July and August however this didn’t seem to effect them.
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11 Sep 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go back to the leek page, set your climate to sub tropical - then look at the year monthly calendar - S plant seeds - T transplant seedlings.
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17 Nov 17, Norma (Australia - temperate climate)
I am just starting to harvest my leeks and I notice there are little baby leek shoots at the base of the leek. Will these grow into proper leeks? I have been putting the whole base of the old leek back into the ground and the tiny shoot grows very quickly but I am not sure if it will be a proper new leek.
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Showing 11 - 20 of 102 comments
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Read the notes here. Transplant out at 4-6 weeks. Sounds like you are pretty close to that. Protect them the first week or two from the sun and wind while they establish themselves. A light watering each day also.

- Another gardener

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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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