Leek

Allium ampeloprasum (Porrum Group) · Vegetable

Quick answer: Water: Every 3–4 days in summer, when the top 1 in is dry (estimated); about 1 in per week. Light: Full sun, at least 8 hours. Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained, pH 6.0–7.0. Pets: Leeks belong to the onion family and are toxic to cats and dogs, including cooked or dried parts. If a pet eats some, contact your vet.

A mild member of the onion family grown for its long white shank. It is slow but very hardy, and can stay in the ground well into winter. Blanching the stem with soil or mulch gives more of the tender white part.

Care at a glance

Light

Full sun, at least 8 hours

Water

About 1 in per week

Soil

Deep, fertile, well-drained, pH 6.0–7.0

Temperature

Best 55–75 °F (estimated); some varieties hardy to about 20 °F

Spacing

2–6 in in the row, 18–24 in between rows

Container

At least 3 gallons, 12 in deep

Harvest

90–150 days after transplanting, by variety

Lifespan

Biennial, grown as an annual

When?

Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before your last frost and plant out when seedlings are pencil-thick, around the last frost date. Winter-hardy varieties planted in early summer can be harvested from autumn through winter (estimated).

Step by step

1. Sow seeds 1/4 in deep in trays; they sprout in 7–14 days (estimated).
2. Trim seedlings to about 4 in tall to keep them sturdy (estimated).
3. Make holes 6 in deep with a dibber and drop one seedling into each.
4. Fill the holes with water only; soil settles in over time.
5. Water regularly; give a starter feed at planting and one side-dressing in midsummer, following the product label.
6. Hill up soil or mulch around the stems a few times to blanch them.
7. Lift with a fork when stems are 1 in or more thick.

Common problems

Pets

Leeks belong to the onion family and are toxic to cats and dogs, including cooked or dried parts. If a pet eats some, contact your vet.

Related tools

Similar plants