Leeks are known by many names. Some call them by their the botanical name: allium porrum, and, of course, some call them leeks, but they all mean the same plant. No matter what you call them, leeks should not be missing from your garden. They are an ideal vegetable for half of the year, are considered easy to care for and, on top of that, very nutritious!
Leek Varieties
Leeks probably orginated in the Mediterranean region. The up to 80 cm large plant belongs to the bulb family and is related to garlic and onion. The varieties are summer, autumn, and winter leeks depending on their harvest time. To the eye, early varieties form rather loose shafts. The light grey to blue-green leaves are often much lighter in later types. More importantly, winter leeks can also cope with the cold. So you should harvest summer leeks, like Erik, before the first frost. On the other hand, varieties like Blue-green Winter or Avano can be harvested in the winter if it doesn’t frost for weeks.
Planting Leeks
You can grow leeks inside as well as sowing them directly outside. Especially with early varieties, it is a good idea to start the plants on a bright windowsill or in a warm greenhouse. Depending on the variety, starting in February, sow the seeds one to two centimetres deep in flat seed trays. The germination period can be up to 14 days. Remember to thin the plants if you have sown too densely.
When the plants are about as thick as a pencil, they can move to the garden in May. Place the leeks vertically in the planting hole. The leaf axils must not be covered with soil! The distance between the individual plants should be 15 centimetres so that the stems can develop well. The rows should be 20 to 30 centimetres apart. Starting in April, you can also sow leeks directly in the garden. For winter varieties, you can plant outside until June. In this case, the young plants are planted in the garden until the beginning of August.
Standort und Pflege
Location and Maintenance
Porree needs a sheltered, sunny to semi-shady place in the garden. A deep, nutrient-rich soil is ideal. Leeks are moderate eaters and are considered more demanding than onions. That’s why you should fertilize them again and again during the summer – preferably with liquid fertilizer, because they need enough moisture to thrive in spite of that.
Grow leeks normally so that they form long, white shafts. As with planting, make sure you do not cover the leaf axils with soil.Leek moths, leek flies, onion flies and fungal diseases such as leek rust can cause problems. If the winter is very harsh, we recommend that you cover even hardy leeks with a fleece. In the second year, the plant forms a pretty spherical flower that attracts many insects, however, the leaves are then no longer edible.
Harvesting, Use, and Conservation
Depending on the variety and planting time, you can harvest leeks from June onwards. Take the stem and roots out of the soil. Summer leeks should be harvested before the first frost at the latest, as they are not hardy. Winter leeks can either be harvested in the winter bed or dug out together with the roots and wrapped in a cold frame or a frost-free box. You can harvest them from September to March.
Fresh summer garlic is suitable raw for salads and quark. Basically, you can use the finely spiced and slightly sweet-tasting vegetable as a side dish, for soups and stews, casseroles, or hearty cakes and quiches. As a matter of fact, not only leeks with white shafts, but also the green ones be used! Harvest leeks only if you want to use them. You can also freeze or pickle them, but they taste best fresh, and the nutrients are also retained. Leeks contain a number of essential oils, minerals, and vitamins that strengthen the immune system, promote digestion, dissolve mucus, and purify.
Our advice is that if you no longer have a garden for leeks, grow fresh leek sprouts! You can simply put them on the windowsill.
