Welcome to our section on tips for growing Leeks.

Here we will give you advice, tips and guidance on sowing, growing and harvesting Leeks in the Uk and the rest of the world.

Leeks are great to grow. Leeks can be tricky to grow but with all the right information you can get some great Leeks from your allotment or garden for winter.

Sowing and Planting Leeks

Leeks take a long time to grow in the garden or allotment. Leeks are usually one of the last things growing on your allotment at the end of the year. Leeks can be picked though from Autumn right through to Spring so if you plant enough leeks you will have a great supply to last you.

When to plant Leeks

Leeks can be sown from early to mid spring. This will then get you a crop of leeks for autumn.

Varieties of Leeks

There are many types of leeks to try growing. There are early and late varieties of leeks which can be grown.

Early Leeks:-

• Autumn Giant 2
• Carlton
• Mammoth Blanche

Late Leeks

• Longbow
• Toledo
• Oarsman

Which variety of leeks are you going to grow this year?

Planting Leeks

Leeks need to be sown early in the year to get an autumn crop. Sow the leeks seeds thinly in 1cm deep and around 15cm apart. Be careful when planting the leek seeds as they are very small. The temperature of the soil needs to be about 5 degrees Celsius for them the leek seeds to germinate.

If you are wanting a crop for the following spring sow them in the early summer. When the leek plants get to around 5cm tall thin out the plants and be careful as the leek plants are very delicate.

You can also start the leek seeds off in a heated greenhouse in seed trays. Then again when they are around 5cm tall transplant them to there place of growing. But before you transplant the leek plants harden them off for ten days by taking them outside for a few hours and fetching them back in.

Growing Leeks

Leeks like to be grown in a sunny spot ideally in the garden or allotment. Make sure the soil is of high quality to grow your leeks in. The soil needs to be well cultivated, weed free and either dig in compost or use a bed which you have put manure in over the autumn before.

The leeks will be ready to be transplanted when they are around 15cm tall and the thickness of a biro pen. The day before transplanting water them well. Before you transplant them trim off the root tips and the tops of the leaves.

In your bed make holes 5cm deep with a dipper tool or a stick. The holes need to be around 15cm apart. Drop the leek plants into the holes but do not fill with soil – instead fill the holes with water this will let the soil settle around them with out damaging them. Once they start growing draw up the soil round them this will make the long white bit on the leek. Water around every 10-14 days in dry periods. Make sure they are kept weed free at all times.

Harvesting Leeks

Leeks take around 30 – 45 weeks to grow so be patient when growing them as they do take there time. The leeks are defiantly worth the wait though.

Leeks can be left in the ground through winter and picked as and when they are needed this stops them from rotting once picked.