How to Grow Leeks

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Planting Leeks

You can grow leeks for both a summer or winter harvest. In a medium to large pot, sow seeds 15 cm (6″) apart, covering with 1/2 cm (1/4″) of soil. Plant indoors during February or March for a summer harvest, or outdoors anywhere between March and June for a fall/winter harvest. Seeds should sprout in 10-16 days.

To eliminate the guesswork in selecting the right size containers for your plants, we’ve put together a list of commonly grown herbs, veggies, fruit and flowers along with the minimum pot sizes required by each.

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When seedlings have reached 20 cm (8″) in height they must be transplanted. Dig a hole 6″ deep, placing the seedling at the bottom and covering the roots up to the first leaf. You will continue filling in the hole as the leek grows.

Leeks do well in fertile soil, so work a granulated all purpose fertilizer into the soil when transplanting, or water with a liquid fertilizer every month.

Watering Leeks

Keep well watered. Water when the top 1″ of soil is dry to the touch.

Where Can I Grow It?

Grow leeks outdoors in a bright sunny location.

Leeks can over winter outdoors in zones 7 and higher. However, if you live in a colder zone you can still grow leeks during the warmer seasons.

Leek Growing Tips

When growing, make a small hill and cover up to the first leaf with soil. To get the leek to ‘blanch’ (turn white) further up the stem, continue hilling the soil up around the stem as the leek grows. This is important as the white part of the leek is what we use when cooking.

Although we’ve classified leeks in the ‘easy’ category, they are very slow growers. Patience is key in growing these veggies.

Leeks are ready to be dug up for harvest when they are at least 2 cm (1″) in diameter.

Companion Planting

Grow leeks near or together with carrots, green onions, or tomatoes as they are beneficial to each other and grow well in combination.

Avoid planting with beans, peas or Swiss chard, as they do not grow well together.

Brie

Hi - I'm Brie! I’m a plant enthusiast here to help you keep your plants alive and thriving with beginner-friendly plant care advice and tutorials.

I’ve been growing all sorts of plants for years in my tiny apartment, both indoors and on small balconies & outdoor spaces. Let’s create your jungle!