This is an example of the timeline you would see based on your growing conditions.
Leek: Summer
These tall, fast growing leeks aren't very hardy and don't store well. They are grown in summer for immediate consumption.
Basics
- Ease of Growing
- Easy
- Grown as
- Annual
- Days to Maturity
- 75-100 (Spring/Summer)
- Growing Habit
- -
- Hardiness
- Hardy
Leeks can be extremely frost tolerant and are considered to be one of the hardiest winter crops.
- Crops
- Spring Transplant
- Growing Season
- Long
- Cultivar Type
- -
- Growing Conditions
- Cold, Cool, Warm
Spring: Leeks like a long (4 - 6 month) cool (not much above 70 degrees F) growing season and are one of the first vegetables to be started in spring.
- Outdoor Growing Temp
- 45°F - 75°F
- Min Outdoor Soil Temp
- 50°F
Leek seed germinates fairly well in cold soil.
- Start Indoors
- Yes
- Start Outdoors
- No
- Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool, Warm)
Leeks do best in full sun, though they will tolerate some shade.
- Water
- Moderate
Leeks grow best in moist soil. Give the plants constant moisture and apply a mulch.
- Feeder
- Moderate
Moderate nitrogen. Moderate potassium. Moderate phosphorous.
Leeks aren't a very hungry plant.
- Suitability
- Tolerates light frost, Tolerates hard frost, Partial shade
- Small Gardens?
- Yes
- Containers?
- Yes
You can grow leeks in a container. Make sure that your container is 12" deep and has drainage holes. Fill with a mixture of potting soil and compost to a level about 4" below the top of the container, which will give you room to blanch the leeks later by adding layers of compost or soil. In hot weather you should keep them out of direct sun.
- Attracts beneficial insects?
- No
- Color
- Fruit Size
- - "
- Plant Height
- 12.0 - 18.0"
- Plant Diameter
- 3.0 - 6.0"
- Hardiness Zone
- 3-10
- Disease Resistance
- Taste Profile
Sweet and mild onion flavor.
- Rotation Group
- Roots: Alliums + Umbeliferae
Learn how to plant and grow onions, leeks, and shallots.
