Sharing is caring!

Leeks are grown for his or her thick, juicy, lengthy stalks. They’re a mild-flavored different to the onion. Leeks require an extended rising season—as much as 170 days. They develop greatest in cool, gentle climate.

Leeks are almost a year-round backyard grower.

Begin leeks indoors in winter for planting out in very early spring for an early summer time harvest. Set out leeks transplants in late summer time for a fall and all-winter harvest.

Leeks are a cool-season crop and produce greatest if the times stay beneath 75°F.

Sow leek seeds indoors about 12 weeks earlier than the final frost in spring then transplant them into the backyard when they’re 8 weeks outdated—about 4 weeks earlier than the final frost.

Associated articles:

If you happen to stay in a really heat or sizzling summer time area—the South and Southwest—develop leeks within the cool time of the yr: begin seeds 8 to 10 weeks earlier than the primary anticipated frost in fall. They are going to be prepared for harvest in late winter and early spring.

Mature leeks can sit within the backyard beneath snow and chilly. Simply cowl them with 12 inches of dry leaves or straw and harvest them if you want them by means of the winter. Leeks don’t retailer very properly (a couple of week within the fridge), so it’s greatest to reap them as you want them.

Leeks are sweeter and extra delicately flavored than onions and garlic—cousins of leeks. Serve leeks steamed or braised, chilled in a salad, or a sizzling leek and potato soup.

Leeks belong to the Allium household which incorporates onions, shallots, scallions, and garlic. Leeks don’t develop from bulbs like different Alliums, they develop thick, cylindrical white stalks. Above the stalks are followers of flat, blue-green leaves. Each the stalks and leaves are edible.

Leeks may be eaten uncooked in salads, added to soups or stews, or sautéed as a vegetable aspect dish. Leeks are most notably utilized in potato and leek soup, which when chilled is named vichyssoise. The stalks are the principle crop, however the leaves can be utilized in soups and stews.

Right here’s your full information to rising leeks!

Brief-season and long-season leeks

• Lengthy-season leeks have thick, cylindrical stems. They take about 120 to 170 days to succeed in harvest. Lengthy-season leeks are normally planted in spring and are harvested from late summer time by means of the winter. Mature leeks are frost-tolerant. They are often saved within the backyard by means of the winter beneath heavy mulch. Additionally they retailer properly in a root cellar. Lengthy-season varieties embody ‘Bandit’, ‘Comanche’, ‘Carentan’, ‘Big American Flag’, ‘Big Musselburgh’, and ‘Runner’.
• Brief-season leeks–additionally known as “early season” leeks–have skinny stems and are typically smaller than long-season varieties. They mature in 50 to 120 days. Brief-season leeks are generally planted in spring and are harvested throughout the summer time or early autumn. They’re much less hardy than long-season leeks. Brief-season varieties embody ‘King Richard’, ‘Lancelot’, ‘Rally’, and ‘Varna’. Plant short-season leeks the place the rising season is brief.
• Typically short- or long-season leek varieties that mature in 90 to 120 days are known as “mid-season” leeks.
• Select a range in response to the time of yr you wish to harvest leeks.

The place to plant leeks

• Develop leeks in full solar. Leeks will tolerate partial shade.
• Develop leeks in free, well-composted soil, however be certain the soil just isn’t too wealthy in nitrogen. An excessive amount of nitrogen is nice for inexperienced leafy development however can rob taste from leeks and shallots.
• Leeks develop greatest in well-drained soil wealthy in natural matter. Add a few inches of aged compost or business natural planting combine to the planting mattress within the spring forward of planting. Flip the soil to 12 inches deep.
• The smooth roots of leeks don’t like compacted soil. Flip the soil a minimum of 6 to eight inches deep with a backyard fork earlier than setting out transplants. If the soil is heavy clay or crammed with pebbles and stones, plant leeks and shallots in raised beds.
• A soil pH of 6.0 to six.8 is greatest for leeks.
• Develop leeks the place legumes have just lately grown. They may profit from nitrogen within the soil.
• Leeks are sometimes sown or transplanted into trenches. Trench-planting is a solution to blanch the stems making them extra tender and flavorful.
• Put together trenches 6 to eight inches (15-20cm) deep and 4 to six inches (10-15cm) broad. Seedlings will likely be transplanted to the underside of the ditch. As vegetation develop backfill soil across the vegetation till the ditch is ultimately stuffed.
• Leeks may be planted in soil-level beds. Mound up surrounding soil or mulch to blanch leeks in soil-level beds.
• The stems of leeks additionally may be blanched by wrapping paper or plastic tubes across the stems.

When to plant leeks

• In gentle winter areas, plant leeks in late autumn or winter.
• In cool–however not chilly–winter areas plant leeks in late summer time and autumn for spring harvest. Plant them once more in spring for fall or winter harvest.
• In chilly winter areas plant leeks within the backyard three weeks earlier than the final spring frost or later.
• Leeks require 120 to 170 days to succeed in harvest relying on the range.
• Leeks develop greatest in temperatures between 55° and 75°F (13-24°C). Development will likely be slowed by sizzling climate. Start sowing leek seeds within the backyard no later than mid-spring.
• Leek seeds germinate in soil that’s 65°F, however the optimum germination temperature is between 70° and 75°F.
• Develop leeks from transplants began indoors or from seeds sown immediately within the backyard.
• In gentle winter climates, begin leeks indoors or direct sow seeds within the backyard 12 weeks earlier than the primary frost in autumn for harvest in autumn or late winter.
• Leeks can tolerate heat temperatures however development will likely be slowed.
• Mature leeks can tolerate chilly and can survive beneath an insulating blanket of snow.
• Plant 12 to fifteen leeks per family member.

Beginning leeks from seed indoors

If ranging from seed, sow seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks earlier than you wish to set seedlings into the backyard. Sow seeds in trays crammed with seed beginning combine. Set seed beginning trays beneath fluorescent store lights or in a sunny window.  Preserve the beginning combine simply moist; don’t let it dry out. Seedlings can go into the backyard simply earlier than the final frost when they’re about 4 inches tall.

• Beginning leeks indoors: Sow leek seeds indoors in early spring; begin seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks earlier than the final anticipated spring frost.
• Begin leeks indoors in a sterile, seed-starting combine; use a cell tray of 6-packs. Plant a number of seeds per cell. Sow seeds ¼ to ½ inch (12mm) deep.
• Seeds will germinate in 10 to 14 days at 70°F (21°C).
• Preserve seedlings beneath develop lights for 12 to 16 hours a day till they’re transplant dimension, about 6 inches tall. Gently separate clusters or clumps of seedlings earlier than transplanting.
• Transplant leek seedlings into the backyard as early as 4 to five weeks earlier than the final anticipated spring frost when they’re about 4 to six inches (10cm) tall. Transplants ought to be within the backyard no later than early summer time for autumn harvest.
• To encourage stocky stem development, maintain the tops of seedlings began indoors to 4 inches (10cm) tall till they’re transplanted into the backyard.

Sowing leeks open air

• Begin leeks indoors as much as 12 weeks earlier than the final spring frost.
• Sow seeds indoors in a heat, well-lighted location—in a vivid window or beneath develop lights.
• Sow seeds ⅛” (3 mm) deep within the seed beginning combine.
• Agency seeds calmly and maintain the soil combine simply moist.
• Seedlings emerge in 8-16 days at 70°F (21°C).
• When seedlings are 2” (5 cm) tall switch them to particular person pots.
• Transplant leeks to the backyard every week after the final frost or later when seedlings are 6-12” (15-30 cm) tall.
• Transfer seedlings to a sheltered place open air to “harden off” 1 week earlier than transplanting.

Planting and spacing leeks

• Sow leek seeds ¼ to ½ inch (12mm) deep. Cowl the seed calmly with the soil.
• Seeds germinate in 10 to 14 days at 70°F (21°C).
• Skinny or transplant leeks to 4 to six inches (10-15cm) aside. Area rows 12 to 16 inches (30-40cm) aside.
• Stagger-plant leeks in double rows; this can give fanning leaves extra room to develop.
• Leeks may be sown or transplanted into trenches 5 to six inches (12-15cm) deep. Trench planting permits for back-filling soil across the stems as they develop; that is one methodology of blanching the stems. (Blanched stems will likely be white and tender.)
• If you happen to transplant a seedling right into a trench, repeatedly backfill the soil to cowl all however the prime 1 or 2 inches (2.5-5cm) of leaves. Don’t backfill soil greater than 1 inch at a time; filling in soil too shortly could cause stems to rot. Use a trowel or your arms to softly backfill soil across the stalks.
• Trenches are progressively stuffed in all through the rising season.
• Don’t backfill or mound soil over the purpose the place leaves begin to department out from the stems; keep beneath branching.
• A substitute for backfilling soil is to blanch leek stalks by wrapping brown paper or cardboard across the stalks and tying the fabric in place loosely; this methodology may even work to blanch the stalks. You may also place plastic or cardboard tubes across the stalks. Slip 6-inch tubes of cardboard (paper towel or bathroom paper tubes) or plastic (reminiscent of thin-walled, 2-inch, PVC pipe) over the stalks when they’re nearly an inch thick.
• You may also enable watering to naturally collapse the soil round vegetation filling within the trenches.

Preserving leeks clear—hilling and rising in tubes

To develop massive, white, succulent leeks you should blanch the decrease a part of the stem or shank by hilling the soil up across the stalks as they develop or rising them in biodegradable tubes.

Commercially grown leeks are sometimes gritty as a result of the soil is pushed up round stalks mechanically. Soil and sand can simply slip between the whorls of overlapping leaves low on the plant. Homegrown leeks may be saved clear with a little bit of consideration and care throughout the rising season.

Hill up soil or aged compost across the base of rising leeks by hand; merely mound up the soil along with your cupped arms. Keep away from sprinkling soil over the tops of vegetation; soil that falls into the area between leaves will likely be trapped. If you happen to plant leeks in trenches, gently push the soil across the stems and agency it in place because the plant grows. Fill soil round leeks progressively as they develop. Don’t brush the soil on the leafstalks. Rinse away soil when the stalks are lifted.

Learn how to develop leeks in tubes

Leeks may be grown, blanched, and saved clear by rising them in tubes—paper tubes or tubes manufactured from biodegradable materials (cardboard bathroom paper or paper towel tubes will work) or in recyclable plastic tubes reminiscent of thin-walled PVC tubing. Tubes will cuff and encompass leek stems as they develop; the tubes bock gentle (and soil) from the stem leaving the shank tender and white at harvest. That is a simple different to hilling up leeks.

Place tubes round leeks from the bottom of the plant at soil degree to only beneath the purpose the place the leaves fork off from the bottom. You are able to do this as quickly because the vegetation are well-rooted. Merely collect the leaves and match them into the tube after which work the tube from the highest of the plant down into the soil. Alternatively, you possibly can lower the tube lengthwise after which open it to suit across the stem after which tape the perimeters collectively. Stake the tubes for stability and go away them in place till you’re prepared to reap.

Container rising leeks

• Leeks may be grown in a 6- to 8-inch deep container. Area vegetation 4 inches aside.
• Leeks rising in containers will probably not attain full dimension.
• Develop leeks in a potting combine wealthy in backyard compost. Ask on the backyard middle for beneficial potting soil.
• Slightly than hilling soil up round every leek plant to blanch the stems, set cardboard or plastic tube round every stalk to exclude daylight.
• Use your finger or a dibber to create holes for transplants.
• You may also wrap newspaper or cardboard across the stalks to blanch them.
• As younger vegetation develop and the stalks elongate you’ll need to extend the size of the tube or materials surrounding the stalks.

Companion vegetation for leeks

• Plant leeks with carrots, celery, garlic, and onions.
• Leeks are sometimes planted close to carrots as a result of they repel carrot flies.

Rising leeks

• Within the backyard, area vegetation 2-4″ (5-10 cm) aside in trenches 5” (13 cm) deep–trenches spaced 6-10” (15-25 cm) aside. Or drop seedlings in holes dibbled about 6” (15 cm) deep leaving only one or two leaves above the soil floor.
• As leeks develop, fill within the trench progressively or, if planted on degree soil, “hill” them by drawing soil up across the stems.
• Massive transplants will develop the perfect leeks.
• Develop leeks in full solar to partial shade.
• Preserve the soil moist throughout the rising season.
• Aspect-dress the vegetation with fish emulsion each two weeks.

Watering leeks

• Preserve the soil round leeks evenly moist; water when the floor turns into simply dry.
• Leeks want about an inch of water every week. Throughout dry spells, monitor the soil circumstances and moisture rigorously. Stick your index finger into the soil, if it comes away dry, water the vegetation.
• It’s best to water leeks on the base of the plant in order to not splash soil into the crevices between the overlapping leaves. Overhead watering can even go away leek prone to fungal illness.

Feeding leeks

• Put together planting beds with well-aged manure and aged compost prematurely of planting.
• Leeks want a gentle provide of nitrogen as they develop to succeed in full dimension.
• Start feeding leeks about 4 weeks after sowing seeds and proceed feeding every month till harvest.
• Fertilize leeks with compost tea, dilute fish emulsion, dilute seaweed extract, cottonseed meal, and different nitrogen fertilizers. An natural balanced fertilizer of 10-5-5 can be utilized.
• Feed vegetation with compost tea each 4 weeks throughout the rising season.

Caring for leeks

• To develop massive, white, succulent leeks, blanch the decrease a part of the stem by hilling up soil or mulch round stalks to exclude the sunshine as they develop. You may also enable trenches to easily collapse across the stems. Blanching will make the stalks longer and extra tender.
• Hill up round stalks to only beneath the leaf junction. Don’t add soil greater than the leaf junction; this can assist forestall soil and grit from lodging between leaves and stems.
• Add 12 inches or extra of straw above vegetation when the climate nears freezing. Leeks have to be protected against freezing temperatures.
• Mulch between rows and weed commonly, particularly early within the season. Weeds compete with leeks for moisture and vitamins.
• Leeks can bolt if there’s too little soil moisture or an excessive amount of phosphorus within the soil. A chronic temperature beneath 45°F could cause leeks to bolt.

Leeks pests

• Onion thrips are tiny yellow-brown bugs that suck juices from vegetation. They might assault leeks in dry climate. Hose thrips off of vegetation. Onion thrips suck juices from leaves inflicting the leaves to be silvery or rusty-streaked. Spray vegetation with water to scrub off thrips or spray with neem oil. Useful bugs reminiscent of lacewing larvae and predatory thrips will ear onion thrips.
• Onion maggots (the larvae of a fly) can assault leek shanks and roots. Onion maggots are small white larvae that feed on the base of the plant, tunneling into the stalk. Cowl vegetation with floating row cowl to stop flies from laying eggs. Useful nematodes will kill onion maggots.
• Allium leaf miners are fly-like pests that feed on plant sap and lay eggs on the leaves. They are often managed with neem oil or by useful bugs.

Leeks illnesses

• Leeks may be attacked by fungal illnesses rust and downy mildew.
• Don’t overhead water leeks.
• Spray-mist vegetation with compost tea which is an anti-fungal or get an natural fungicide on the backyard middle.

Harvesting leeks

Leeks may be harvested at simply in regards to the stage of development although as a rule, they are going to be most flavorful when younger and tender and about ½ inch spherical or later when the shanks have grown thick and spherical.

You may defend leeks from freezing climate by mounding up mulch round them. Leeks can keep within the backyard till you want them within the kitchen. But when temperatures threaten to drop beneath the teenagers, pull them up and retailer them in a plastic bag within the fridge the place they are going to maintain for a number of weeks.

• Harvest leeks as quickly as they’re sufficiently big to make use of or wait till they attain mature dimension. Leeks may be harvested when they’re scallion or shallot-size.
• Leeks are prepared for harvest 75-130 days after seeding, from early autumn to late spring.
• Brief-season leeks (with thinner stems) may be harvested throughout the summer time.
• Lengthy-season leeks (with thick, cylindrical stems) are harvested from late summer time by means of winter.
• Harvest when stems attain 1-2” (2.5-5 cm) in diameter and the leaves are 6-8” (15-20 cm) tall—after the ditch has been stuffed in.
• Leeks don’t retailer properly; harvest as wanted. In mild-winter areas, leeks may be left within the floor and lifted as wanted.
• Leeks will likely be close to their mature dimension when stems attain 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5cm) in diameter and leaves are 12 to 18 inches (30-45cm) tall.
• To encourage full stalk development, lower off the highest half of the leaves about midsummer.
• The flavour of leeks is improved after vegetation are hit by a lightweight frost.
• Carry leeks as you want them by means of winter however full the harvest earlier than the bottom freezes.
• Don’t wash leeks till you’re prepared to make use of them.

Storing leeks

• Preserve leeks within the backyard till you’re prepared to make use of them.
• Rinse between leaves and stems to take away soil and grit.
• Leeks will maintain within the fridge in a plastic bag for as much as one week or in a chilly, moist place for two to three months.
• You may maintain leeks in moist sand or soil in a cool place–32 to 40–for six to eight weeks.
• When freezing climate arrives, leeks may be dug from the backyard and saved in a cool–32°F to 40°F–and moist place.
• Leeks may be saved upright in a field with the roots set in moistened sand or soil after which saved in a cool cellar.
• Leeks may be saved within the backyard over winter and survive a tough freeze if closely mulched. Leeks are biennials; if leeks are left within the backyard till spring they’re prone to develop seed heads which is able to compromise the flavour.

Leeks within the kitchen

• Leeks may be served uncooked or cooked. Contemporary leeks are milder flavored than onions and shallots.
• The topmost leaves are normally robust; discard the tops or add them to a stockpot or one thing that will likely be boiling for a very long time.
• Wash leeks rigorously earlier than utilizing to eliminate any dust that bought into the tops; you possibly can lower the leek in half from root to prime after which maintain it beneath operating water or swish it in a pan of water, pulling the layers aside and rinsing as you go. Then shake dry.
• Uncooked, finely chopped leeks are sometimes added to salads–use together or as an alternative choice to onions, shallots, or chives.
• Younger leeks may be served like scallions or spring onions.
• Leek greens are sometimes used to taste quiche, broth, stews, and purees.
• Steam braise leeks and ser chilled in a salad.
• Sautée thinly sliced leeks by cooking them over low warmth with thinly sliced mushrooms.
• Sauté leeks in butter or add them to soups and stews.
• Younger leeks may be braised or grilled or chopped and added to salads.
• Leeds may be boiled till tender; serve them with melted butter.
• Minimize the white a part of the leek into skinny slices and precook by frying earlier than including it to a soup.
• Leeks are wealthy in nutritional vitamins–nutritional vitamins Okay, B6, and C–and minerals together with manganese and iron. Leeks additionally comprise flavonoid antioxidants.

Learn how to lengthen the harvest

• Mulch spring-planted, slow-growing leeks with a thick layer of straw in late autumn for harvest by means of the winter.
• Sow slower-growing varieties in summer time for an early spring harvest.
• Sow fast-growing varieties in winter in a plastic tunnel or chilly body for spring harvest.

Saving leek seeds

• Leeks are biennial.
• Overwinter leeks within the backyard; within the second yr they are going to increase a seed stalk that bees can pollinate.
• Leeks are greatest remoted from different alliums in case you intend to save lots of seed and wish them to breed true.
• Leek seeds are viable for about 3 years.

Leeks incessantly requested questions

Q: Are leeks hare to develop?

A: Leeks require an extended interval to succeed in maturity, however they’re easy to develop. Their tradition takes extra consideration than ability.

Q: Ought to I begin leeks indoors?

A: You probably have a brief rising season, begin leeks indoors. Sow seed indoors 12 weeks earlier than the final frost in spring. Skinny sprouts to 1 inch aside. When leeks are pencil skinny, transplant them into the backyard 4 to six inches aside.

Q: Can I develop leeks in a gentle winter area?

A: Sure, begin leeks open air in mid-winter in gentle winter areas or plant seeds from late summer time to late autumn for harvest the following spring.

Q: How can I blanch leeks?

A: The standard solution to blanch leeks is to set them in a 6-inch furrow after which progressively fill them in to blanch the stalks because the vegetation develop. This system requires a variety of work and grit and soil can get into the folds within the stalks. Another is to wrap the leeks with brown paper or slip 6-inch tubes of cardboard or plastic (reminiscent of thin-walled, 2-inch, PVC pipe) over the stalks when they’re nearly an inch thick.

Q: Do I’ve to blanch leeks?

A: No. Leeks will likely be completely useable if you don’t blanch the stalks. Blanching makes the stalks whiter and maybe extra succulent.

Q: When ought to I harvest leeks?

A: Leek varieties fluctuate in maturity dates from 70 to 140 days. Leeks are edible at pencil-thin dimension or you possibly can wait till they attain maturity when the stalks will likely be 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Don’t allow them to flower within the second yr; they are going to be too robust to make use of within the kitchen.

Leek varieties to develop

There are a number of forms of leeks; some come to reap in as few as 50 days, and others take 140 days to succeed in full dimension. As a rule, shorter-days-to-maturity varieties are much less cold-hardy. Choose longer days to reap varieties for storing within the backyard by means of the winter. Brief-season leeks have a thinner stem and don’t maintain in addition to cold-hardy long-season varieties.

• ‘American Flag’ (90-120 days): traditional, dwelling backyard selection; candy taste; 8 to 9 inches lengthy, 1 inch in diameter.
• ‘Bandit’ (100 days): thick, heavy, winter leeks for late harvest and overwintering.
• ‘Blue Solaise’: very chilly hardy; matures in 105 days.
• ‘Carentan’ (90 days): inexperienced leaves and white shanks.
• ‘Comanche’ (75 days): lengthy, white shanks; dark-blue leaves; early fall harvest.
• ‘De Carentan (110 days); lengthy stems; candy taste; high-quality texture; grows quickly; French selection.
• ‘Elephant Leek’ (85 days): massive stems; vigorous grower; extensively grown.
• ‘Falltime’: tall shanks—thick stems; harvest earlier than arduous freeze; 80 to 90 days to reap.
• ‘French Summer season Kilma (75 days): darkish blue-green leaves; lengthy slender stems; European selection.
• ‘Big Musselburgh (105 days): Scottish heirloom, greatest winter hardy.
• ‘Kilima’: gentle flavored; develop to 12 inches tall; 80 to 100 days to reap.
• ‘King Richard’ (75 days): grows to full dimension in summer time; not winter hardy.
• ‘Lancelot’ (70 days): bolt-resistant, virus tolerant.
• ‘Massive American Flag’ (130 days): thick stems; candy taste; extensively grown.
• ‘Laura’: very chilly hardy; good in very chilly winter areas; 115 days to reap.
• ‘Lincoln’ (50-100 days): early selection with lengthy, white shanks.
• ‘Otina’: harvest younger or at maturity; very succulent; 120 days to reap.
• ‘Poncho’: stocky, quick shanks at maturity; 100 days to maturity.
• ‘Rally’ (85 days): heavy, uniform shanks; rust tolerant.
• ‘Runner’ (100 days): thick, heavy shanks; blue-green leaves; winter leek.
• ‘Tardorna’ (100 days): open-pollinated; medium-length shanks; fall-winter harvest.
• ‘Tivi’ (75 days): lengthy straight shaft; inexperienced tops; candy taste; Danish selection.
• ‘Varna’ (60 days): quick-growing summer time leek; good for child leek.

About leeks

• The leek is a hardy biennial grown as an annual. It’s a mild-flavored member of the onion household.
• Leeks have thick white stalks topped with fanning, deed-green, strap-like leaves.
• Left within the backyard for a second season, leeks will flower and won’t be flavorful.
• Botanical title: Allium ampeloprasum Porrum Group
• Household: Amaryllidaceae (onion household) — different alliums embody onions, shallots, and scallions
• Origin: Mediterranean, Egypt

Leeks articles on Harvest to Desk:

Learn how to Plant and Develop Leeks

Leeks Seed Beginning Ideas

Learn how to Harvest and Retailer Leeks

Six Methods to Prepare dinner and Serve Leeks

Potato-Leek Soup Merely Made

Backyard Planning Books at Amazon:

Extra the best way to develop articles:

Learn to plant, develop, and harvest your favourite greens. Click on beneath for all it’s essential to know.