Plant Height

Up to 60cm/2ft

Time between sowing and harvesting

About 30 weeks

Where to Sow

Outdoors in a seed bed

Sowing time

Late March - April  - temperature   +12C/54F. 

How to Sow

12mm/1/2" deep - very thinly - in rows 15cm/6" apart or in groups/ blocks

After Germination

Thin plants to 5cm/2". 

Growing on - 

 in Pots

Not recommended

Growing on -

in  open ground

Once the plants are 20cm/8" tall, transplant to final growing positions. Water the bed well before lifting with a fork. Trim the root ends and growing tips.  Make holes with a dibber,  15cm/6" deep and 15cm/6" apart in rows or groups/blocks then drop the leek seedlings into the holes (1 per hole). Fill each hole with water but not soil.

Aftercare

Water in dry weather but do not deliberately fill the holes with soil. Gradually pull up surrounding  earth around the base of each plant during the growing season which will increase the length of white stem. Try not to get soil  between the leaves when doing so. Feed occasionally during the growing season.

Harvesting

Begin lifting when the leeks are small and tender to prolong the cropping period. Leeks can be left in the ground over the winter months.