Leeks quietly hold their ground through the depths of winter, ready exactly when the rest of the garden has little to offer.
Leeks are a hardy, long-season crop that sits happily in the ground over winter, making them a useful source of fresh veg when little else is ready. Planting into deep dibbed holes rather than firmed soil is what produces the long white shanks prized in the kitchen.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | Sow in January | Sow in February | ||||||||||
| Plant | Plant in April | Plant in May | ||||||||||
| Harvest | Harvest in January | Harvest in February | Harvest in September | Harvest in October | Harvest in November | Harvest in December |
Care details
- Sow January – February
Sow indoors or in a seedbed.
- Plant April – May
Plant out into deep holes, watered in rather than firmed, for long white shanks.
- Harvest September – February
Lift as needed — they sit happily in the ground over winter.
Growing tips & common problems
- Trim roots and leaf tips before transplanting to help seedlings establish faster.
- Water into the planting hole rather than firming soil around the stem, to keep the shank long and white.
- Lift as needed rather than all at once — they store far better left in the ground than pulled and kept indoors.
Grows well with
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