Vegetable · Allium
Leeks
Allium ampeloprasumA slow, steady allium that rewards patience with sweet, mild stems standing tall through the harshest cold. Blanching the lower stem by mounding soil is what turns a green top into the prized white shank. The one rule: start early indoors, since leeks need a long season to bulk up.
Sow depth
½ in (indoors) · 4 in (transplant depth)
Spacing
6 in · rows 12 in
Sun
Full sun
Germination
10–14 days
Time to harvest
90–120 days
Difficulty
Moderate
When to sow leeks
- Sow from about 3 weeks before your last expected frost until about 3 weeks after your last expected frost.
Start indoors — sow in trays about ten weeks before transplanting.Transplant seedlings into deep holes rather than shallow trenches.Drop each seedling in and water in; do not backfill the hole fully.
Blanch as they grow — mound soil up the stems every few weeks.Water deeply during dry spells to keep stems swelling steadily.Weed by hand near the base to avoid damaging the shallow roots.
Lift with a fork — loosen soil first rather than pulling by the leaves.Harvest from young and slender to thick and mature as needed.Leave the rest in the ground; leeks store best left standing in situ.
Companion plants
Keep fromBeansPeas
Leeks and carrots mask each other's scent, confusing both carrot fly and leek moth.
Watch out for
Leek moth — Caterpillars tunnel into leaves and stems in warmer months. Cover crops with fine insect mesh from planting through harvest.