Growing Leeks: The best method of growing, caring and harvesting the vegetable

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GROWING LEEKS

Those delicious vegetables are of course in the onion family, known with the botanical name of Alliaceae (family) and the leeks themselves are known as Allium ampeloprasum.

They are grown from a seed, and the plant will do especially well when grown in cooler weather, although the plant can tolerate moderate heat. They do best though when the temperature is less than 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

When growing leeks in a pot or indoor planting area keep in mind when they ought to be planted in your area, considering that leeks will take approximately 2 to 3 months to germinate.

For instance, if you live in the South, the leeks will need to be planted in the fall in order for your leek harvest to be ready in the spring.

But in the North, you should plant them in the spring in order to have them ready for picking in the fall. The seeds need to be planted about 1/8 of an inch deep.

Once the seedlings begun to grow, they are then ready to transplant into your garden. The stalks should be approximately pencil sized.

Choose an area that is well drained, and one that has been treated with composted material or perhaps aged manure.

Keep in mind that leeks will grow best in an extremely nitrogen rich soil. Dark rich soil will turn out the best leeks.

Using either a small post hole digger, or a stick make holes that are approximately 6 inches deep, drop the transplants in the bottom of the hole and cover with the soil being filled approximately to the level of the first leaf notch.

Do not continue to fill in the hole; you will do this later in order to blanch the stem. One of the best tips for growing leeks is to occasionally bunch the soil up around the plant. This is what encourages the stem to blanch which is what makes the best leeks.

When first transplanted be sure to water well with an abundant amount of water. The seedlings should be approximately 10 to 14 weeks old.

You may wish to make a transplant solution composed of half strength, meaning diluted with more water, 20-20-20 or even 10-10-10 fertilizer, mixing it well into the soil.

You will also need to weed around the fragile young plants until they are somewhat older. Leeks are not liable to suffer from very many diseases, nor do they seem to attract insects, thus they will be very easy to grow if you’ve followed all the directions.

Leeks grow best when they can get approximately 7-8 hours of bright sun each day. They also should be watered once a week. Take care to not over water though, as it may create a fungal disease.

When growing leeks they will be ready to eat when the stalk is about 1 inch in diameter, or a bit larger, and some leeks are capable of growing up to 3 feet in height.

If you live in the North, you will need to harvest all of your leeks when the temperature reaches 35 degrees Farenheit, although some varieties can remain in the ground when it’s colder than that. Follow the directions on the seed packet you received when you bought the seeds.

Onions, Leeks, And Garlic: A Handbook For Gardeners (the W. L. Moody, Onions, Leeks, And Garlic: A Handbook For Gardeners (the W. L. Moody,