- Growing carrots, onions and leeks all intermingled is supposed to confuse and deter carrot fly;
- Leeks apparently hide brassica from pigeons.
Leeks are among the most tolerant and trouble-free vegetables to grow. My leeks usually get some rust - rusty-coloured spots on the leaves; it's a bit unsightly, but doesn't affect their usability.
- Choose two or three varieties so you can have early leeks from October to November, mid-season from December to January, and late from February to April.
- Sow the seeds thinly in shallow drills about 6 inches apart in March or April.
- Thin them to about 1 inch apart. I have successfully transplanted the thinnings - and eaten others as a delicious alternative to spring onions.
- The leeks are ready for transplanting when they are about 8 inches high, and the thickness of a pencil. I lift my early potatoes, fork in a generous helping of compost from the heap, and transplant the leeks.
- Water the seed bed the day before you transplant.
- Make a 6 inch deep hole (or deeper) with a dibber.
- Drop in the leek seedling and gently fill the hole with water. Don't fill it with soil!
- Space the leeks 6 inches apart, in rows 12 inches apart. The bigger the spacing, the larger your final leeks.
- Keep the weeds down, and draw soil gently around the stems - but not into the leaves.
- Worth thinking about feeding your leeks? From a contributor to A4A "Once my leeks have started to grow I feed the holes fortnightly with urine diluted 8 to 1 (8 water), and in mid August I give a heavy top dressing of Blood, Fish and Bone, which is watered in. If I think they are not making enough progress I give them a `haircut` to promote the formation of new leaves." I'd go for the first bit, certainly.
- Start harvesting when they are still quite small - and as and when you need them. Lift them gently with a fork.
Using into May
I love leeks, and usually grow far too many - and then find, in March and April, I want to use the space they're in. They don't mind being dug up, and heeled roughly into an odd corner for a couple of months - especially a cooler, more shaded spot; doing this can keep them usable well into May
Varieties I've tried.
Variety
About
Results
Swiss Giant Zermatt
Very early - ready Sep/Oct
New to me, but seed-bed trashed.
King Richard
Early - ready Nov-Dec
Reliable cropper - and has been usable up to end of January. Grow it every year!
Musselburgh
Ready Dec-April
Favourite - and has been usable up to end of May.
Growing Calendar - Leeks
Timings are based on my allotment in Yorkshire; southerners will start earlier, northerners even later!
Fits in Onion part of your rotation, alhough I transplant into bed left by new potatoes.