The leek is an unique vegetable which belongs to the allium family and is also a relative of the onion.
Leeks are often overlooked as vegetables and yet they are the most undemanding and one of the most rewarding vegetable you can plant. The plants are exceptionally easy to raise and are relatively pest free as well as not minding cold conditions.
The leek is usually grown in the cooler part of the year and prefers a lightly limed soil. Leeks are usually grown alongside carrots, onions, garlic, parsnips and other root crops, but rotation is important and where possible leeks and onions should not be grown on the same patch for at least three years.
The leek grows slowly and steadily over a relatively long period of time (4 to 6 months) and so the sooner the seeds are sown the larger the leeks will grow. In gardens leeks are usually transplanted from seed beds when they reach a length of 15 – 17cm and are as thick as a pencil (about 3 months of growth).
Recipe for Successful Growing of Leeks from seeds
Ingredients
Rannoch Rootrainer system (50 cells to a tray)
Good quality Leek seeds
Good quality peat free compost
Water
Warmth (not too warm)
Good ventilation on sunny days
Method
Fill The Rannoch Rootrainer Tray with compost
Sow the seeds thinly into each cell in at the earliest mid-February March (about 4 to six seeds in each cell)
Cover the tray with the clear propagating lid
Leave to germinate in a warm but not too warm place
Remove lid once plants have emerged and use as a drip tray under the tray and grow on in good light
When plants are ready plant out into a deep, rich well composted and moist soil
Make 15cm deep holes with a garden stake and place the seedling into the hole. Don’t close the hole with soil but rather water the plant which will close the hole with the right amount of soil.
As the leeks mature mound up the soil to keep the shanks blanched white.
Of course watering of the young plants is vital until they are well established and weeding is just as essential.
Leeks are harvested by first loosening the plant with a fork pushed vertically downwards several inches from the row and then they can be pulled out with no damage and not too much soil disturbance.
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