Cart is empty
How to Grow Leeks
Index
- Sowing Instructions (Indoors)
- How to Transplant
- Sowing Instructions (Outside)
- Crop Maintenance
- How to Harvest
- Storage
- Pests & Diseases
Sowing Instructions (Indoors)
- Leek can be started, early indoors & transplanted in June
- Sowing Time: Sowing indoors in mid February
- Sowing Location: 24 cell seed trays, one seed per module
Sowing Instructions (Outdoors)
- Traditionally, leeks are sown in seed beds
- Sowing Time: Mid to Late March, once soil is suitably warm
- Sowing location: Sunny location in seed beds, in open vegetable plot or raised beds
- Soil: Fertile soil that drains well is preferred
- Avoid soils that waterlogs or dries out rapidly
- Leeks prefer alkaline soil, with ph between 6 and 7.5
- Spread home made compost or manure on the site the previous autumn
- Create shallow drills 1/2 inch deep
- Sprinkle seeds thinly along the drill
- Roughly 1.5 inch apart
- Close the drill with soil and water well, not forgetting to label
- The distance between the drills should be 18 inches
How to Transplant
- Transplanting increases the length of white stem on your leeks
- The young plants are ready for moving in June when 20cm long
- Water well before moving, if grown indoors harden off before transplanting
- Using a dibber, make holes 15cm deep & 15cm apart
- Insert your leek seedling & fill the hole with water
- Don't backfill hole with soil & avoid letting soil fall between the leaves
Crop Maintenance
- Keep well watered as roots can be exposed to sun
- Weed every second week
- To increase the length of the white stem you can earth up around the leek's stem
- Susceptible to the same diseases as other onion plants
Harvesting
- Pull your leeks as and when you need them
- Carefully lever the root out with a hand fork
Storage
- Leeks will last for up to a month in your fridge
- Avoid lifting early, leeks are perfectly fine in the soil until needed
- Leeks can tolerate moderate frost (-2°C to -5°C)
Pests and Diseases
- Pests: Bird attack seems to be one of the main problems
- Damage: Birds pull up roots
- Protection: Fine netting is draped between twigs for protection
- Other pests and diseases include: Onion fly, neck rot & bolting
