Leeks

Easy to grow, flavoursome winter vegetables.

Leeks grow best in the open ground, however you can also use large, deep pots or raised beds if you don’t have a lot of space. They should be sown in March/ April, preferably in a seedbed, and then transplanted after a few months of growing as they require a lot of room. However, if you would only like a few leeks then they can be planted individually in small pots to start. Between May and July, they should be planted in the open ground or in large containers 15 cms apart and 1 cm deep in the soil. 

Top tips

– During long, dry periods, water regularly. 

– Weed around the leeks often.

– To grow a longer stemmed leek, gently bring dry soil up around the white stem regularly, but be careful not to get soil in the leaves. 

– Use a fork to gently pull the leek out of the soil when it is ready to harvest.

Key timings

Our experience

Although these vegetables require a bit more space than others, if you do have the room for a few, then they are easy to grow and great additions to a winter stew or soup. Once they are planted out, they are happy to be left alone other than regular watering and weeding. However, there are a few common problems to watch out for. Leeks can suffer from ‘Leek Rust’ if they are grown too closely together in a humid environment, so ensure they are given enough space, and cut off any area showing bright yellow spots. Also, be wary of moths and other insects laying eggs in the leaves.