There is nothing better than your own home grown leeks and learning how to grow leeks from seed is easy and rewarding. Leeks are a member of the Allium family and have a nice mild flavor which adds a nice taste to your soups, stir-fry’s and stews.

How to grow leeks from seed

You will want to start your leek seeds indoors about 6 – 8 weeks before planting outside in the spring to obtain healthy transplants.  If you live in a climate where you have a shorter growing season like I do then it is a good idea to start them this early so you can have nice sized leeks for the fall.

Supplies you will need to grow leeks from seed:

• Leek seeds
• Seed trays or pots
• Organic seed starting mix or good soil
• Water

Gather all your supplies and set out on your work place.  Begin by filling up your seed trays or pots with your soil and lightly tap the soil down. Sprinkle some seeds around in your pots. Put a little bit more dirt on top to cover them and then give them some water. You can cover them in a dome container if you have one to keep the heat and moisture in or place in a sunny spot.

In a weeks time you will notice some little leek seedlings starting to poke through.

If you are starting other vegetable seeds indoors and have a table with grow lights you will then want to place them under the lights so they don’t begin to reach for light and become leggy. You will keep them indoors for the next few weeks and can be transplanted out to the garden a couple of weeks before your last spring frost date. Be sure to read your leek seed package for reference.

How to plant leeks Outside

After 6 to 8 weeks your leek seedlings should be about 15 – 20 cm tall and are now ready to be transplanted outside to their new home to grow and flourish into big leeks.  Choose a sunny location with fertile well drained soil.  Leeks like a slightly acidic soil of about a PH of 6.0 to 6.8 with organic matter in it. Make holes in the ground about 5 inches deep with either the end of your hoe or a stick. You will want to plant your leek seedlings 8 – 10 inches apart to allow enough space for the leeks to fill out.

Remove your leek seedlings from their pot and if the soil is damp enough you should be able to gently loosen the seedlings and the roots apart from each other.  If the dirt is to dry then you can soak the dirt ball or run a hose over the clump to loosen them.

Place your leek seedling into the made holes making sure the roots are place down into the bottom. Fill the holes with water and cover with soil.  Lightly tap the dirt around each leek plant to keep the seedling securely in place.  Water regularly.

When To Harvest Leeks

You can start harvesting your leeks in the fall when they are an inch thick. Of course the longer you leave your leeks in the ground the bigger they will get. If you are like me you will be eager to start using your fresh leeks in your recipes for their great garden fresh taste. Now you know how to grow leeks from seed and will be an expert by next season!

 

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