Leeks are another of those plants that I often get people telling me they struggle to grow. Instead of producing solid, large leeks, these frustrated gardeners talk of shrivelled, spring onion-look-alikes. Leeks are not a set and forget type of plant, they require a little love and attention, and if looked after will be a handy and tasty vegetable to have in the garden.
And now is a really good time to plant them. They take a long time to grow, so in order to be ready during winter they need to be in the ground soon. Now’s also a good time because even though they need cold weather, they like to get started while the weather is still warm.
Order your leek seedlings here. Each regular sized bundle has 20 leek seedlings in it, which look a lot like chives.
Next find a good place to plant. They need to be grown in full sun and the soil needs to be well-drained. So if your soil is dense and compact, break it up with a garden fork and dig in some compost and well-rotted manure. This will help improve the quality and drainage.
Leeks also prefer the soil to be a neutral to slightly sweet pH - around 6.5 to 7.5pH. So if you’ve had a bit of rain (which can make the soil sour or acidic) I recommend adding some lime to the soil a few days before you plant to help raise its pH level.
I also suggest digging in a good general fertiliser to help give your seedlings the right head start.
When you’ve got the soil all sorted dig a small trench. Next place the seedlings in the trench, approximately 20cms apart. Leeks need space to expand, and grow best when planted in rows.
Fill in the trench with soil to the top of the stems, leaving the leaves at the top exposed. Now, give your leeks a light water.
Try to keep the soil constantly moist, without being too wet.
The tricky part of growing leeks is they need constant moisture but can’t stand water-logged conditions. So, for the first few weeks after planting, you will need to check on the soil every couple of days until they are well established.
As your plants grow, regularly fold in the soil around the stems. Doing this will ensure they increase in size and will help to achieve white, chunky, stems.
As I mentioned at the start, leeks like the soil to be well-drained and lose. Hoeing the soil gently on a regular basis will keep the soil light and fluffy and your leeks happy.
It will take around three to four months for your leeks to be ready to harvest. The easiest way to tell when they’re ready is just to keep checking the size of the part that sticks out of the soil. When that part is looking nice and thick, pull one up and have a look. A successful harvest will produce leeks approximately 15cm tall and 5cm wide. And trust me, nothing beats home-grown leeks.