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Planting Leeks Out

When to Sow Leeks

• Plant Out: May to July
• Sow Outdoors: March to April

How to Grow Leeks

• Leeks are ready to transplant in June when they are about 20cm (8in) high and the thickness of a pencil.
• Water well the day before lifting and transplanting.
• Prepare the plants by trimming off the root tips.
• Make 15cm (6in) deep holes, 15cm (6in) apart in rows 30cm (12in) apart and drop a plant into each hole.
• Fill the hole with water to settle the roots. You don’t need to backfill the hole with soil, just let the water settle the soil around the roots.
• If you have a lot of plants, try dropping two or three into each planting hole. You'll get smaller leeks but the overall yield should be the same.

Tips for better leeks

• To increase the length of white stem it can be blanched by gently drawing up dry soil around the stem in stages, but try not to allow soil to fall between the leaves or you will get gritty leeks.
• Water during long, dry spells and weed regularly as leeks hate to be surrounded by weeds.
• When you have the made the hole with your dibber, before you remove the dibber from the soil just compress the soil around the dibber slightly and place your hand around the dibber to keep the soil in place so it doesn't fill the hole in as the dibber is removed.
• To get your leeks of to a flying start, drop 2 or 3 chicken manure pellets into each hole before you pop the leek in.
• I always net mine till well established as birds love to tug at them or eat the green tops.