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Leek
Allium ampeloprasum
The winter allium — sweet, mild, and standing tall through frost.
Sun
Full sun
Water
Regular
Soil
Rich, well-drained, pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing
15 cm apart
Days to harvest
100–130 days
Hardiness
Zones 3–9
Seasonal Calendar
H
SH
S
S
H
H
H
H
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Sow Harvest
The method
- 1
Sow in modules
Start indoors in trays, thin to strongest seedlings.
- 2
Transplant into holes
Drop pencil-thick seedlings into 15 cm deep dibbed holes, water in — do not backfill.
- 3
Blanch with soil
Draw dry soil up the stems in stages to lengthen the white section.
- 4
Harvest as needed
Lift with a fork through winter — they hold in the ground for months.
Common problems
Leek moth
Cover with insect mesh from May to September.
Rust
Space widely; avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen.
Good neighbors
CarrotCeleryOnion
Field tips
- “Split old clumps into single stems — they'll bulk up again in one season.”
- “The dark green tops make wonderful stock.”