How to grow Leeks
Allium ampeloprasum
Mild, hardy alliums that stand through winter.
Leeks are slow but easy and extremely hardy — many types stand right through winter to be dug as needed. Hill or trench them to grow long, white, tender shanks.
Grow Leeks with step-by-step help for your exact yard.
Start free in Seededly →Leeks at a glance
| Sun | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6.0–7.0 |
| Spacing | 6 in |
| Harvest | 100–120 days |
| Plant | Early spring |
| Note | Very hardy |
How to grow Leeks, step by step
Start early
- Start seed indoors; transplant pencil-thick seedlings into a trench.
- Space 6 in.
Blanch the shanks
- Hill soil up around the stems as they grow for long white shanks.
- Keep fed and watered.
Dig as needed
- Lift leeks once thick; hardy types stand in the ground through cold.
- Dig through winter in many areas.
Leeks problems & fixes
Leeks — Thin shanks: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Crowding or poor soil. Thin to 6 in; feed and water.
Leeks — Orange streaks (rust): what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Leek rust in damp weather. Improve airflow; rotate alliums.
Leeks — Gritty layers: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Soil washed between leaves. Hill carefully; split and rinse well.
Recommended leeks varieties
- American Flag — All-rounder. Reliable, hardy, long white shanks.
- Bandit — Winter. Extremely cold-hardy - stands through hard frost.
- King Richard — Early. Fast, tender, for late-summer leeks.
Leeks month-by-month
| January | Dig overwintered leeks. |
|---|---|
| February | Start seed indoors. |
| March | Grow seedlings on. |
| April | Transplant into a trench. |
| May | Hill up the shanks. |
| June | Steady growth. |
| July | Keep watered. |
| August | Shanks thicken. |
| September | Begin harvesting. |
| October | Hill for winter standers. |
| November | Dig as needed in cold. |
| December | Dig overwintered leeks. |