SCIENTIFIC NAME: Allium porrum

CULTURE: A large, upright, nonbulbing type of Allium. Matures to long, thick, blanched shanks topped with 50-75mm wide flat leaves. Leeks are heavy feeders and require fertile soil (pH of 6.2-6.8) for best results.

GROWING SEEDLINGS: Sow in flats in Aug-Sept, 6mm apart, 6mm deep. Transplant to 75mm plug flats when large enough to hanule, or start in plug flats, thinning to one plant per cell.

TRANSPLANTING: Beginning in late spring, when approx. 20cm tall and pencil-thick, transplant outdoors 15cm apart, rows 60cm apart in holes dibbled about 15cm deep. Only 25-50mm of leaves need extend above the soil surface. Do not firm soil – allow irrigation or rain to fill in the dibble hole.

DIRECT SEEDING: Sow in early spring, 6 seeds/30cm, 6-12mm deep, in rows 60cm apart. Thin to15cm.

BLANCHING: During the growing period hill the plants with soil 2 or 3 times, higher with each hoeing. This forces the leaves higher up the plant resulting in extra long blanched stalks and a much greater edible portion. When using the “dibble method,” hilling is reduced or eliminated.

HARVEST: When plants reach desired size, loosen with a spading fork and lift plant.

STORAGE: Clean leeks and store several weeks at near freezing in a humid cooler in boxes, or store in a root cellar with roots in moist soil/sand/peat mix.

DAYS TO MATURITY: From transplanting; add 20-30 days if direct seeding.

AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE: 1,000 seeds/55m, 30g/550m, 300g or 105,000/acre at 6 seeds30cm in rows 75cm apart.

TRANSPLANTS: Avg. 30g/6,000 plants, 500g./100,000.

SEED SPECS: SEEDS/30g: 7,700-10,700 (avg. 9,400).

Quick Facts

• Latin Name: Allium porrum
• Days To Maturity: 75 Days
• Life Cycle: Annual