Permapotes

Leeks

Leeks: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar

Leeks are vegetables in the genus Allium and the family Amaryllidaceae, alongside onions and garlic. Cultivated leeks are usually named Allium porrum or placed in the leek group of Allium ampeloprasum. This description covers the vegetable generally rather than a particular variety. Selections differ in earliness, cold tolerance, foliage and shank dimensions. The word leek therefore does not promise a single season or identical behaviour in every garden. Those differences are useful when comparing leeks intended for different times of the year.

The long, flat leaves overlap at their bases to form a cylindrical shank. Often called a stem or the white part of the leek, it consists mainly of bundled leaf sheaths rather than a root. It does not form a large, rounded bulb comparable to an onion. White sections gradually merge into pale green areas and then into darker foliage. Depending on the variety, the leaves may be green, bluish or sometimes tinged with violet. The length of the white section also reflects growing conditions and cannot alone identify a selection.

Usually biennial, a leek first develops its vegetative organs and may later flower when conditions allow the transition. Its flower stalk carries a rounded head composed of many small flowers. This stage changes the texture of the centre and reduces its appeal as a tender vegetable. Early types differ from those intended for autumn or winter. Winter varieties can tolerate cold well, but that quality still depends on the selection and climate. Frozen ground or a severe winter can restrict access to a crop that remains in the garden.

The onion-family flavour generally becomes milder with cooking and suits soups, savoury pies, gratins and slow-cooked meals. White and tender green parts provide different textures; firmer leaves can contribute flavour to stock. Leeks therefore have several culinary roles beyond their white section alone. In a vegetable garden, their upright habit and strap-like foliage create a distinctive outline. The diversity of varieties offers crops for different seasons, without promising a continuous harvest or lengthy storage once plants have been lifted.

Leeks
Leeks
Characteristics
  • Lifecycle : Annual
  • Exposure : Full Sun
  • Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
  • Cultivation Difficulty : Medium
  • Mature height : 50 cm
Sowing & Planting
  • Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
  • Sowing Depth : 1 cm
  • Plant Spacing : 15 cm
  • Row Spacing : 30 cm
Maintenance
  • Maintenance : Moderate
  • Water Requirements : Moderate
Other characteristics
  • Soil Type : Humus-rich
  • Soil pH Preference : Neutral
  • Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Pollination : Insect-pollinated
  • Propagation : Sowing