If there is a lot of rain in winter or early spring, leaf rot can set in. Gather them at night, set traps, or use biological control. On young plants, slugs can be devastating. The tube will rot over the growing season, but will help prevent soil from getting into leaf bases during early growth. To keep this from happening you can slip a section of paper tube, such as from toilet tissue or paper towels, over the plants while they are still young as early as planting time.
BACK TO BACK LEAF AND STEM PLOT SKIN
Soil that tumbles into leaf folds can wind up trapped between skin layers in the stem. Inconsistent moisture yields tough stems.Īs leeks grow, mound the soil from the trench around stems, beginning when stems are 1 inch thick. After that, plants require an inch of water a week, either through rainfall or irrigation. Water leeks as needed until plants are established. Feed newly planted leeks with Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition every seven days. Water well.Īfter planting, mulch the bed with straw or some other organic material to help soil retain moisture.
(Deeper planting yields a more drought-resistant plant, too.) Create a narrow trench 6 to 8 inches deep, then tuck seedlings into the trench, adding soil back so it comes up to the base of the first green leaf. To produce a succulent white stem, leeks must be blanched - in other words, covered or hidden from the sun. Or, if planting in raised beds or containers, be sure to fill them with the right type of soil for that growing environment, such as Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Raised Bed Mix for raised bed gardens and Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose Container Mix for pots. To improve the soil if you haven't thought that far ahead, mix in a few inches of Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose In-Ground Soil with your native soil. If possible, add compost to the leek bed the season prior to planting. Leeks need two things to thrive: lots of nitrogen and consistent soil moisture. Space leeks 6 inches apart when planting. Leeks thrive in traditional garden beds, raised beds, or even in tall containers, so choose whatever works best for you. Plant leeks in a sunny spot in soil that is fertile and well-drained. Harvest leeks at any time once they are large enough to eat.One week after planting, begin regularly feeding with a water-soluble plant food.Leeks aren't fussy, but they do require moist soil, so check soil moisture often and use a soaker hose if necessary.Improve native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.Space leeks 6 inches apart in an area that gets 6 or more hours of sun daily and has nutrient-rich, well-drained soil.They grow well in raised beds, containers, and in-ground gardens. Plant leeks during the cool weather of early spring and fall.In northerly zones, tuck plants into beds in early spring, as soon as soil can be worked. In zones 7 and warmer, plants can overwinter in the ground, making them perfect for fall planting. Leeks are most famous for leek and potato soup, but they're also good steamed like asparagus, oven-roasted, chopped in quiche, or wrapped in ham and baked (perhaps with a little cheese on top).įrost-tolerant leeks thrive in cool weather. In the supermarket, leeks cost a premium harvested from the garden, they're a bargain. Leafy stems are pretty, and growing leeks doesn't require much room in the garden. Unlike onions, leeks don't produce bulbs but stash their flavor in thick, juicy stems that look similar to giant scallions. Sweet and mild, leeks are gentle on the digestive system and play the role of onion in dishes, only toned down. Grace your dinner table with an easy-to-grow, elegant onion cousin: the leek.
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