All About Leeks - Burpee (2024)

FAQs

What not to plant next to leeks? ›

Companion planting for health and yield

Plant leeks with carrots, celery, onions and spinach for improved growth. But, steer clear of planting them near beans and peas. The leeks will benefit the other veg by repelling carrot root fly.

Make a row of holes with a large dibber or trowel handle, 15cm (6in) deep and 5cm (2in) across. Deep planting helps to form the long white shank. Space the holes 15–20cm (6–8in) apart, depending on the variety, or 10cm (4in) apart for baby leeks. Allow 30cm (1ft) between rows.

Leeks aren't fussy, but they do require moist soil, so check soil moisture often and use a soaker hose if necessary. One week after planting, begin regularly feeding with a water-soluble plant food. Harvest leeks at any time once they are large enough to eat.

Most leeks require a long growing season of about 120 to 150 days, and a minimum of eight hours of bright sunlight daily.

Plant Leeks and Carrots together as they protect each other from carrot fly and leek moth. Get on with Carrots, Lettuce, Beetroot and Cabbages. Do not plant with Peas or Beans. Plant Leeks and Carrots together as they protect each other from carrot fly and leek moth.

Plant with Brassicas, carrots, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, peas, potatoes, radish, and strawberries. Avoid planting near chives, garlic, leeks, and onions. Pole beans and beets stunt each other's growth. Soya beans – Good for fixing nitrogen, and acting as a mulch against weeds.

If you use commercial fertilizer (we recommend 10-20-10), distribute 1/2 cup of fertilizer per 10 linear feet of row and dig thoroughly into the top 4-6in of soil. PLANTING: Set plants out approximately 6in deep and 6in apart.

Use a fertilizer higher in nitrogen and lower in phosphorus. Another thing you can do to stop leek flowering is to plant smaller transplants. Make sure your leek transplants are thinner than the width of a normal drinking straw. In the home garden you're also better off harvesting smaller leeks.

Leeks are a cool-season crop, so are well suited for cultivation in Wisconsin. They do best in full sun in light, well-drained soil. They are more successful in heavier soils than onions. They are also a rather long-season crop (80-120 days).

Leeks prefer a deep, fertile, friable soil with plenty of organic matter. A well-drained, light-textured soil makes planting and harvesting easy and contributes to production of clean and presentable produce.

How to fatten up leeks? ›

Plant seedlings 15cm apart – a grid pattern works. Eat the thinnings as baby leeks and start harvesting alternate plants when at 2.5cm in diameter, leaving more room for the rest to expand. Mound up the earth to blanch the stems. Allow them time to grow.

Too much shade, especially as days shorten in winter, can cause leeks to become spindly with thin stems that may be prone to pests such as aphids. Leeks can also be grown in pots; ensure they are given enough space between each seedling for proper stem development.

I plant leeks in trenches that are 6 inches deep. As the plants grow, I hill them up every couple of weeks, piling an inch or two of soil around each plant or along the row. Hiding the shank from light blanches it, producing more of the tender white part. Watering well is important.

Leeks generally don't require pruning throughout the growing season besides harvesting mature leaves. However, it's important to remove any dead or diseased leaves as soon as possible to prevent them from weakening the whole plant.

Planting leeks facts

Biennial (a plant that requires two growing seasons to complete its life-cycle) but treated as an annual. Planting: Start seeds indoors for early spring transplants or later in the summer for a fall crop. Leeks are fairly hardy and can be planted several weeks prior to the last frost date.

But, if you're struggling with thrips in your garden, avoid planting onions, leeks, or garlic near your tomatoes. While they are normally great companions, these root veggies are susceptible to thrips too. Photo by: Proven Winners.

You may want to experiment with different companion crops until you find the perfect combination to fit your personal tastes and growing conditions. Avoid planting zucchini and summer squash with all other vining plants which include cucumbers and sweet potatoes as well as pumpkins, winter squashes, and melons.

While there are many plants you want to grow near onions, there are a few that should definitely be avoided. Onions should not be planted with peas, beans, asparagus, or sage. Onions can stunt the growth of these crops and also negatively affect their flavor.