Varieties We Grow

We grow a summer leek (Varna: 60-80 days) and a winter leek (Bandit Organic: 135 days). Both have the delicate taste that works so well in potato leek soup, in stir fries and in summer salads.

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Getting Started

We sow our summer/fall harvest leeks 1cm (about1/2 inch) deep in flats in our unheated greenhouse mid-march; and our winter harvest leek seeds mid-April in the same way in the greenhouse. If you don't have a greenhouse, sow the seeds indoors and set the containers on a sunny windowsill.

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When the seedlings are about 15 cm (6 inches) tall, we carefully separated the individual plant's plant them in a sunny, compost- enriched bed of loamy-textured soil. ​Plant the seedlings deep in the soil so that only the top 5 cm (2 inches) of the plant pokes above the surface.

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Caring for Your Leeks

Leeks are pretty much trouble-free. Adding compost to your soil &working it in just before you plant helps all kinds of vegetable seedlings, not just leeks. Compost is a 'natural balancer', keeping your soil at pH suitable for almost all plants and amending the texture and permeability that all plants need for healthy, unimpeded root growth.

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Deep water your leeks once a week.  It's important to keep their roots moist (but not soggy!) as they grow. Mulching in the hot summer months helps to keep soil moisture content constant and leek-friendly. Mulching also keeps the weeds down, saving you work.

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As the leeks grow, hill up the soil around the stem. This will keep the most edible part of the plant white & tender.

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Harvesting Your Leeks

​One of the coolest things about leeks is that you can harvest them when they're little, humungous and all sizes in between. And they'll winter over, too. Fantastic.​

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Companion Plants for Leeks

Grow leeks with beets, carrots & onions.