Growing Leeks

allium porrum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
S S             S S    
    T T             T T

(Best months for growing Leeks in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 4 - 8 inches apart
  • Harvest in 15-18 weeks. Loosen with a fork rather than pull by hand..
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots

Your comments and tips

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20 Feb 19, Helena (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What type/variety of leek is best suited for Sydney South West area?
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22 Feb 19, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Look up some varieties on the net and pick one and try it.
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08 Feb 19, Charlotte (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have grown leeks but found that they often have a hard inedible inner stalk when harvested. What have I done wrong?
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11 Feb 19, Oliver (Australia - temperate climate)
Have you let them flower? My experience is once they send up that flower stalk.. that is the woody centre stalk. You need to harvest before this happens. Otherwise you just have to slice along the leek and pull this stalk out and use the softer outside bits in a stew or tart. Leek and fetta tarts are awesome:)
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10 Feb 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Could be dryness. Try and have a consistent soil moisture. Check plant and harvest times.
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08 Jan 19, michelle (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi have just dug up leeks as they seemed to go woody and flower so quick this year. I found lots of bulbs underground are just like elephant garlic, some with babies. Do they behave like garlic? or am I just finding previous elephant garlic bulbs left behind that have sprouted or maybe none of them were the leek plants at all that I purchased ? confused Michelle
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10 Jan 19, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Sounds like you planted them late in the season. Look at the guide here - maybe plant seed March and transplant 4-6 weeks later. Then harvest 11-13 weeks later. They should look like a leek not garlic. Do some research on the internet - how to grow leeks.
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03 Dec 18, Genevieve Radley (New Zealand - temperate climate)
What season are leeks harvested in NZ? Thanks :)
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04 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes here about growing it. It tells you when to plant and how long until harvest.
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10 Nov 18, Leeanne newnam (Australia - temperate climate)
When do leeks go in and how long till they harvest, is it summer or winter?
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Showing 31 - 40 of 140 comments
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G,day gardeners, I was given a bunch of small leeks about 6 months ago which was mid winter here in South Australia. I didn't know anything about leeks so I just separated them and planted in a small ditch. They are now 2 to 3 feet tall and have shot a tall stem up with a bulb on the top of it. I have tried to find out when to harvest them but can't find any clear instructions on this. My question is, does the appearance of this bulb mean they are turning to seed ? Do I need to pull them now or can I leave them growing ? Any info would be appreciated, thank you.

- Jason

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