Leeks - Key Growing Information

A row of leek plants in the field; harvest when white stems or shafts are approximately 3" (7 cm) long or greater.

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Allium porrum

CULTURE:

Leeks are heavy feeders and require fertile soil (pH of 6.2-6.8) for best results.

DAYS TO MATURITY:

From transplanting; add 20-30 days if direct seeding.

TRANSPLANTING:

Sow in flats in Feb.-March, 1/4" apart, 1/4" deep or start in plug flats, thinning to one plant per cell. Beginning in late spring, when approx. 8" tall and pencil-thick, transplant 6" apart in rows at least 12" apart in holes dibbled 6" deep. Only 2-3" of leaves need to extend above the soil surface. Do not firm soil - allow irrigation or rain to fill in the dibble hole.

DIRECT SEEDING:

Sow in early spring, 6 seeds/ft., 1/4- 1/2" deep, in rows 24" apart. Thin to 6".

AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:

1,000 seeds/165', 1 oz./1,650', 11 oz. or 105M/acre at 6 seeds/ft. in rows 30" apart.

BLANCHING:

During the growing period hill the plants with soil 2 or 3 times, higher with each hilling. This forces the leaves higher up the plant resulting in extra-long blanched stalks and a much longer edible portion. When using the "dibble method," hilling is reduced or eliminated.

HARVEST:

When plants reach desired size, loosen with a spading fork and lift plant.

STORAGE:

Clean leeks and store several weeks at near freezing in a humid cooler in boxes, or store in a root cellar with roots in moist soil/sand/peat mix.

TRANSPLANTS:

Avg. 1 oz./6,000 plants, 1 lb./96,000.

SEEDS/OZ.:

7,700-10,700 (avg. 9,400).

PACKET:

250 seeds, sows 38-40' or 140 transplants unless otherwise noted.