Leek

Leek

Allium ampeloprasum

Start leek indoors 11 weeks before your last spring frost, then plant out 2 weeks before your last spring frost. Space plants 6 in (15 cm) apart.

Photo: WikiLucas00, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Indoor Start

From seedRecommended
  1. Start indoors11 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. Begin hardening off3 weeks before your last spring frost
  3. Plant out2 weeks before your last spring frost
  4. First harvestabout 110 days after planting out

Optimal Transplant

From seed
  1. Plant out2 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. First harvestabout 110 days after planting out

Growing leek

Spacing in the row
6 in (15 cm)
Between rows
12 in (30 cm)
Planting depth
1/4-1/2 inch
Sun
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, fertile loam
Germination
7-14 days at 60-70°F
Harvest season
Fall, Early Winter
Mature height
12-36 inches
Life cycle
Biennial

Sow seeds 1/4-1/2 inch deep, cover lightly, and maintain consistent moisture.

Watering. Requires consistent moisture, especially during dry periods; avoid waterlogging. Even watering supports uniform blanched stems.

Neighbours

The companion chart →

Grows well beside

Keep apart from

Feeding

Seedlings
Apply a dilute liquid fertilizer (e.g., fish emulsion) once true leaves appear.
Growing
Provide a balanced granular or liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks after establishment.
How often
Every 3-4 weeks during active stem development.
Note
High nitrogen initially supports robust foliar growth; a balanced approach follows for stem thickening and blanching.

Your leek, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add leek to your planting calendar →

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