In recipes, leeks may be substituted for onions and, unlike onions, can be chopped and frozen for use in the winter after you run out of your own onions. You eat the white part of the leek, not the green tops. Leeks can be harvested over a long period if you choose the right mix of varieties. Varieties described as early-season leeks will be ready in time for autumn, while mid and late-season leeks can be harvested through the winter and into spring.
Leeks grow best in soil rich in organic matter, in a sunny, open position. Leave enough space between plants for good airflow. Like onions, leeks started indoors need to be planted early: 10 to 12 weeks in later winter before the last frost date. Leeks can be planted outdoors about the time of the last spring frost, though they will survive light frosts even when young — and heavy frosts in the fall. If starting indoors, start sowing the earliest varieties under cover in late winter.
To sow your leek seeds, first sieve potting soil into pots or open flats and gently tamp the potting soil down. Sow the seeds about an inch apart in trays or pots, or two seeds per cell in a plug tray. Cover them with a thin layer of more sieved potting soil, and water them. Keep the potting soil moist but not too wet. Place early sowings on a sunny indoor windowsill or in a greenhouse.
The flavour is no less impressive when eaten full size in the autumn. The leek is a great vegetable for cooler climates, it's easy to grow, useful and very versatile. The white elongated bulb at the base of the leaves, makes a very tasty, fresh vegetable, either on its own or in stews or casseroles. The green leafy tops of leek is excellent for flavouring soups and stews. They are also very nutritious and very rich in vitamin A. The leek is a member of the onion family, but is far easier to grow than the onion.
The are able to grow in varied soil conditions, so long as it is not waterlogged. Where to grow : Although the leek vegetable is tolerant of a wide range of soil types, they grow best on a moist, light soil that has been heavily manured from a previous crop.
Freshly manured soil is not suitable, because leeks grown in very rich soil will be coarse and tough and with far too much leaf growth. If the soil is in need of organic matter, it is best to dig in well rotted garden compost.
Choosing the site for sowing leeks may be influenced by the fact that they are generally left in the ground to be dug as required during the winter months, and can remain in the ground for a year or more.
Don't grow leeks in the same place year after year as there will be an increased risk of pests and diseases. In crop rotation, leeks follow lettuce, cabbage or peas, but it is not a good idea to plant them immediately after lifting early potatoes. This is because the soil will be too loose and disturbed and leeks do best on a firm soil. When to grow : Wait till early to mid-spring before sowing leek seed, depending on the weather.
They can either be sown in a seed bed for transplanting the following summer, or sown in their permanent positions. If you sow in a seed bed you have the added bother of transplanting, but this must be balanced out by the fact that if they are sown in their permanent position, they will take up a lot of space for a long time before producing results.
Sow the leek seed thinly about 2. If the seeds are properly stored they will be viable for about four years, so you can keep seeds for future use. After covering the seeds, firm the soil down and water if dry. Drills should be about 15 cm 6 in apart in the permanent bed. Germination should take about days and thinning should begin as soon as possible, when the pants are not more than thin green shoots, about six weeks from sowing.
Thin the seedling to about 5cm 2in the first time as some of the plants may die, and then thin again when everything seems to be going well, so that the plants are about 10 cm 4 in apart. Sowing Dates There are 3 sowing dates for leeks which will give you fresh leeks from July right through till April. Use a seed compost which has a finer texture and lower nutrients than your standard multipurpose compost. We use a seed module tray with each section being approx 2 inches deep.
Here's what you do:. Transplanting : By mid summer when the plants are about as thick as a pencil and 20 cm 8 in high, they will be ready for transplanting to their permanent position. If you are able to plant during showery weather the young plants will settle more quickly, otherwise water the bed the day before if the soil is dry.
To plant leeks in holes, use a thick dibber or trowel and make the holes 15 cm 6 in deep and cm in apart, depending on what size of leek you want. Make sure the holes are vertical and move the dibber about from side to side so that they are slightly larger at the top. The holes should be about 5 cm 2 in in diameter. Cut back the roots until they are 2. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Home Yard and garden Find plants Vegetables Growing leeks.
A quick guide to leeks Most leeks require a long growing season of about to days. Start seeds indoors and transplant in early spring. Hill the plants to produce a longer white shaft, or plant in a furrow and fill it in. Leeks have shallow root systems and need plentiful watering. Leeks are tolerant of cold, so you can delay harvest until after the first frosts. Soil pH and fertility. Open all Close all. Soil testing and fertilizer Have your soil tested.
Leeks grow best in well-drained soil with pH between 6. Apply phosphorus P and potassium K according to soil test recommendations. Many Minnesota soils have enough phosphorus. Unless your soil test report specifically recommends additional phosphorus, use a low- or no-phosphorus fertilizer.
Do not use fresh manure as it may contain harmful bacteria and may increase weed problems. In mid-summer, side-dress with a balanced fertilizer such as 10 at a rate of one cup per 10 feet of row.
I am sitting here with a cup of tea, taking a break from potting up tiny seedlings, wondering why I can never get pencil size transplant together, making another stab at it. To trim or not to trim? To pot up or to thin? I loved your illustration of what you actually do.
Glad the article was useful. Due to travel, I started my leeks quite late last year and had super small seedlings when transplanting, I had to replant a few, but the majority came in just great. Like you, I think about thinning the seedlings but never get up the nerve to pull and toss them.
Good luck, Getty. Good timing for this post! My usual way to preserve leeks for the winter is to clean, chop, saute, and freeze, but I love the idea of drying them — would certainly save on freezer space.
As far as eating, we love whole or halved leeks that have been roasted along with other veggies. They get a crispy outside and a sweet, tender inside. Have you ever tried blanching leeks with toilet paper tubes or something like that? Privacy Policy. Share this post Start leeks indoors. There you have it, all you need to know about how to plant leeks and more!
Here are two of my favorite leeky things:.
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