Leek Growing Guide

Allium porrum

Leek

Crop Rotation Group

Allium (Onion family) ●

Soil

Requires rich, loamy soil that holds moisture well.

Position

Sun or partial shade.

Frost tolerant

Yes.

Feeding

In late summer while the weather is still warm, drench plants thoroughly with a water-soluble plant food.

Spacing

Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 5" (15cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Sow indoors in early spring, and move to a protected cold frame if you have one. Transplant when seedlings are about the size of a pencil.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

When leeks are almost the size you prefer, blanch them for 2 to 3 weeks by putting a mound of soil, mulch, or a cardboard tube around the base of each stem. Grows best in climates where nights remain cool through summer. In mild winter climates, try leeks as a fall-to-spring crop.

Harvesting

Dig as needed in the kitchen. In cold winter climates, dig plants before the ground freezes in early winter.

Troubleshooting

Struggling plants may be infested with onion root maggots, which are easy to see when you dig up a plant. Promptly remove affected plants.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Leek

Plant Diseases which Affect Leek