Leeks blog post

Leeks: How to Grow and When to Plant in Your Backyard or Patio Garden!

Leeks are very similar to onions and garlic, but you eat the stalk instead of the root. They are extremely nutritious!
Leeks are very similar to onions and garlic, but you eat the stalk instead of the root. They are extremely nutritious!

How to Grow:

Leeks are planted 8-10 weeks before your last spring frost and 4 weeks before your first fall frost. You can see specific dates for your location using our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App.

Leeks are planted 1/4-1/2 inch deep, 9 per square foot, in full sun. Take care to notice what plants are around the area as well, see the companion plant section below. Leek seeds will germinate in approximately 14-21 days. Provide consistent moisture and make sure that the soil is draining well.

Companion Plants:

Companion planting is a vital part of organic gardening. Companion plants assist in the growth of others by attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, or providing nutrients, shade, or support. There are also plants that do not like being next to each other. Some plants get too tall and can provide too much shade for your plant. Sometimes certain plants attract the same pests, so it is important to try and separate these.

         Good Bad
Acorn Squash Marigolds Asparagus
Arugula Marjoram Beans (bush & pole)
Banana Peppers Nasturtiums Eggplant
Beets Oregano Garlic
Bell Peppers Potatoes Onions
Broccoli Pumpkin Peas
Brussel Sprouts Rhubarb Sage
Butternut Squash Spaghetti Squash Shallots
Cabbage Spinach Southern Peas (Black-Eyed Peas)
Carrots Strawberries Turnips
Celery Summer Savory  
Chamomile Summer Squash (Zucchini)  
Cucumbers Sweet Peppers  
Dill Swiss Chard  
Hot Peppers Tarragon  
Kohlrabi Tomatoes (bush & vine)  
Lettuce    

 
See companion plants for 80+ foods in our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web app!

Pests:

Pests can be one of the most difficult challenges you face in the garden. We strive to grow food without the use of pesticide and luckily there are natural solutions for most of these nasty pests! The pests listed below are common ones for leeks:

Learn more about how to manage pests and attract beneficial insects in our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App!

Harvesting:

Leeks are ready to harvest within 90-150 days.  Leeks are ready to harvest when they are approximately 1-2 inches in diameter. You can harvest by simply loosening the plant with a gardening fork and pulling it directly from the soil.

Cooking & Eating!

Untrimmed leeks will store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. When they are cooked they will only last approximately 2-3 days. To preserve leeks freeze, pickle, can, or dehydrate. Leeks are commonly used in soups, sauteed, and stir-fried.

 

Learn more about growing over 80 different foods, including how to manage various pests in our FREE iOS, Android, or new Universal Web App!

leeks

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