Growing Leeks from Sowing to Harvest

[@shadyman6346]

From A to Z coverage, even a recipe! You have the true heart of a teacher! Thanks so much...

[@ElizabethTheunissen-pi3vi]

Let's just enjoy the video without hunting for a negative comment. I love his training

[@speedygonzales2052]

By far the best Leek growing video I’ve seen and it’s only 5min long 👍

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks! 😀

[@eliakimjosephsophia4542]

Leak and potato soup with vermicelli and coriander, you can't beat it!

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds yummy!

[@liebo76]

This is my third year growing leeks and they are pretty easy. With the exception of harvesting them without getting dirt into every little crevasse. Your tips are going to be implemented when I harvest in a few weeks here in coastal Southern California.

[@gfkgfk7178]

I dried my leeks for the 1st time last harvest. Cut into 1 inch rounds and put into the dehumidifier. Great as a pizza topping, soups, stir fries or whatever your little heart desires. Thnx for the vid.

[@GrowVeg]

What a great idea!

[@cek7940]

Thank you for the dibber idea, I flipped my outdoor broom upside down and used the handle, it worked brilliantly and saved my back 🤓

[@GrowVeg]

So important to save your back - glad to have inspired!

[@CJJacksonBGT]

I just love this guy!! No nonsense advice. Easy to follow and honest! You have made my 'lockdown' intro to mini backyard growing into a now passion! Thanks

[@GrowVeg]

That is really fantastic to hear, I'm so pleased. I hope you continue to enjoy your new-found passion. :-)

[@Whistlewalk]

Have been enjoying the leeks I started last August all winter,and am still enjoying them as they come ready to eat.

[@anjah7360]

We save our toilet paper rolls and slip them over the leeks when they still fit, then leave them on for months. After harvest, the leftover paper stays in the soil.

[@winkinc7]

I was thinking the same thing! Glad to know it works

[@GrowVeg]

That's a brilliant idea!

[@pandaiahdogiparthy287]

winkinc7 etvseril

[@gardenladybackyard4897]

what is the purpose for that?

[@anjah7360]

There are two purposes: firstly, it shuts out light as the leek grows large enough to fill in the space and therefore will blanch, resulting in a more tender vegetable. Secondly, it acts as a deterrent for allium leaf miner as an added bonus!

[@alanshaw3197]

I am impressed with your leeks and a recipe at the end.

[@anygwa2362]

I let a few leeks grow through the second year. Beautiful flowers loved by pollinators followed by free seed! I even allow some to seed themselves, popping up randomly.

[@Cihanxxx]

You can keep onian seeds with same way..!😊😊

[@edwardortman2593]

I take it these require two years to go to seed then.. That is good to know...

[@sandram5664]

I tried growing leeks for the first time 2 years ago and lost the whole crop to allium leaf miner. I found out that this is a new pest in the US and that was about the year it was first identified, right here in Pennsylvania. Last year I grew them with an inexpensive black tulle fabric covering and they did well. Still got a few miners when I took off the fabric in late October; I should have left it on through November. Thanks for the video.

[@GrowVeg]

Good luck with this year's crop of leeks. Allium leaf miners can be deeply frustrating.

[@cek7940]

Sandra M. Do you know about grow veg's report a bug program? Here's hoping for a great growing season for everyone! Blessings ♥

[@czechoslovakianwolfdog]

co plant your plants that attract miners with marigolds and rosemary in between the rows, that will help repel them.

[@sandram5664]

@@czechoslovakianwolfdog Thanks Jura. I’ll try that and use row cover as well. I still get some damage even with row cover, so using both methods should help even more!

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

I have wild leeks spawned from original plantings. I love the flowers, as do the bees so I leave a few each year... which in turn begets me tiny sweet leeks.. about the size of scallions really, but they are delicious. in past years, I have tried thinning them out but they tend to go to seed; so I just leave them in their natural clumps and tease some out when I want to use them. Health dictates lazy gardening now... but my leeks are still helping me out.

[@GrowVeg]

Young leeks are really delicious eaten like scallions, with a little dressing on them, or lightly steamed.

[@birdingsue]

Perfect timing. Just starting some leeks for a community bed and some for myself. Thanks for posting

[@paulayates3150]

Perfect timing for me too! Got my seeds yesterday, have never grown them. Am looking forward to it. Thanks for the info.

[@douglaspearce1187]

After eating leeks on my recent hols at my sister's spot in France my wife insisted I have a go at growing them when we got back home in Johannesburg. An older video but still the best of the bunch. My seeds will be sown this overcast and windy Monday morning. Thank you, Ben. Smashing video. Well done, sir.

[@GrowVeg]

Hope they grow well for you Douglas. :-)

[@prroblin]

Thank you! I'm trying leeks for the first time this season. I grow in an organic community garden in Emmaus Pennsylvania.

[@Outdoor_Girls]

Did you know that leeks are usually cut and come again. So next time you go to harvest a leek consider cutting it leaving 5cm of white still on the stalk and just wait a couple of weeks (depending on where you are) for it to regrow

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, that's a great idea - a second smaller crop. It's a bit like those 're-sprouting kitchen scraps' videos you see - but left in the ground.

[@gardenlover4458]

I love the idea. Thanks

[@Evie-vv8bk]

Thanks for this tip! i'm only growing a few in a container and this sounds like a great idea.

[@100BlaQRaok.el_1]

This the most creative vegi video I have seen yet!

[@katesnow8654]

Thank you. lovely to watch after the storm yesterday. I shall be in the greenhouse 😃

[@RelentlessHomesteading]

Delicious Tips! Many great suggestions on planting and harvesting. I particularly like the 'blanching' idea - though my wife enjoys the green part almost all the way to the tip. We use ALOT of leeks - they are tasty in their own right, but also great substitutes for onions which we've not had much luck with in our soil. I have had issues: first year direct sowed two varieties - they only got to about 1/4" (7 mm) diameter. Puzzled I left them in through the winter and let grow the next season - they stayed green but did not grow at all! - weird. Then that season also planted some xplants from a nursery - THEY took off and got 3 feet (...excuse me 1 meterish) tall and were wonderful. Thanks for another great video!

[@lynd7081]

That’s the perfect way to grow leeks, thank you for the video.

[@FontediCalore]

if you think about it, that's the way to grow anything.

[@skipdowning2328]

A Yank here attempting to grow leeks in the U.S. I have much to learn. I sowed seed straight into the ground in late May, and so far they are up about 3 inches and big around as a pencil lead. At this rate they might be the size of a ballpoint pen by the time we get snow

[@GrowVeg]

You're doing great. Depending on where you are, I would look to replant/thin them to give them enough room to grow bigger for winter.

[@FrogmanAnime]

I’m in Australia, and a new/intermediate level gardener whom is 90% reliant on pots and containers to grow anything (small unit). I’ve sort of been timid to try onions of any sort, had some bad experiences with bunching/spring onions and shied away from them after. I’ve recently become interested with trialling leeks as a experiment. But I will probably do this in September when it’s spring here in Oz. Also trialing garlic and ginger this year. My fingers are crossed. I found this video informative and enjoyable. I find most of my guides for veg growing are from mostly English or USA based gardening KZbinrs. Keep up the great content

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much - and will do. Definitely try growing garlic - hugely rewarding.

[@lizhyrkas3989]

You can grow about 4 leeks in a 10” pot. Actually, you can plant more but they will be smaller. If you grow too many, you will end up with a big root ball and will have to cut them apart. But, since you just eat the upper part, nothing is wasted.

[@looneygardener]

Everything I wanted to know!!!! Brilliant

[@neillamont1320]

I cut a inch off the bottom and leave them to start pushing up again and have planted and they have made a new crop

[@cek7940]

Thank you for the tip! I will try that!

[@andyw3152]

Your videos helped me as a first time veg grower, thanks

[@hibachi4491]

when harvesting, you can cut the bottoms, soak in water that just barely touches the roots for a few days, and then re-plant. Saves some time for the next round of sewing.

[@GrowVeg]

Great tip, thanks Ethan!

[@jet8485]

What a great idea. How deep should you replant them?

[@hibachi4491]

@@jet8485 I would leave maybe a quarter inch uncovered, but I think you could probably go all the way up to the surface in terms of how much of the leek you cover, if you wanted to.

[@oraskat]

I have had only 1 failed attempt on growing them last year, but I've loved eating them forever! My favorite is leek creamy soup: ground beef/pork, creamy sauce base couple cups of cream, water, leeks and a few potatoes - voila, deliciousness! I've eaten it for several of my birthday dinners over the years.

[@GrowVeg]

Totally yummy! :-)

[@JebGardener]

Two seasons I kept them very well watered during our hot Southern California summer and they grew all season to the massive size you see in my channel thumbnail picture. If they dry out in the heat they can go to flower early.

[@GrowVeg]

Looks like you've grown really good-sized leeks Jeb. Thanks for sharing.

[@brightantwerp]

Thank you! I will be growing leeks for the first time.

[@Pickhandle]

Just about to go and buy some seeds and sow my very first leeks - ever! New allotment looks good, and I feel so excited! Thanks for the helpful advice - and how nice it is to read comments that are not racist, insulting, etc! Cheers all!

[@AnneTea4Two]

I'm new to growing leeks, I bought a punnet of seedlings today, they're all quite tiny. After watching this video I think I should probably up pot them all for now and let them grow stronger and larger before putting them in the ground. It's the first month of autumn here in Australia (Canberra) so I think I have time to do that before the really cold weather hits. I'm fairly new to vegetable gardening, I guess I will learn more as the years go by. Thanks for a great video.

[@GrowVeg]

You're welcome Annie. I think potting them on to grow on a bit more is probably a wise move.

[@morelmaster]

Leeks are extremely hardy plants, I planted some last spring, harvested some last fall, and let the rest overwinter in the garden uncovered. Our winters are very cold with snow and the ground freezes hard for months, but yet this spring the leeks were still alive and are now growing again, and no sign of them going to flower.

[@donnasteward7670]

What zone are you in John mizak? I'm in zone 5b & our winters are lone, the ground freezes solid.

[@Beaguins]

@@donnasteward7670 I don't know about John Mizak, but my leeks overwintered in zone 4 with heavy snow cover (northern Michigan). Leeks are pretty amazing that way.

[@peterturner1582]

Rather than hilling or covering the stems with cardboard I have had good success by planting them in a large block quite close together ( about 2-3 inches). The sun finds it hard to penetrate and they naturally blanch. I also place straw or sugar cane mulch around the outside of the block to protect the outside ones from direct sunlight.

[@GrowVeg]

What a great idea!

[@kosonnoy3021]

Fantastic video, concise & covers everything. THANKS.

[@damicolicious]

Wish I had a tip to share, but I do it the exact same way as you detailed, and I always get amazing results. I guess the only thing I could suggest that most folks already know.. if you choose to get a headstart with leek plant starts, Dixondale farms sells Lancelot Leek starts that are hearty and delicious, and affordable to buy. Cheers!

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers for the recommendation Michael.

[@katrinmcmiddle5747]

Your presenting is incredible :) Thanks for your passion and tips

[@chillydawgg4354]

when you harvest, you must say, "I'm taking a leek"

[@GrowVeg]

Ha, ha! Very good!

[@Tara-sf7uu]

My kids never fail to say "There's a leek in the boat!" at least once every single year when they help me harvest

[@cek7940]

Put your harvest into a bucket...my bucket has a leek!

[@Breea32581]

🤣🤣🤣

[@roisin252]

I like to say that my potatoes are chitting themselves......

[@richardmcdonald7329]

One thing he missed on this one is if your leeks get rust DON'T put the leaves in the compost, burn them or throw them out also you shouldn't plant any onion family on that area for three years. There is no fungicide for rust.

[@ironian24]

He also missed out weather you can plant them before the last frost or not

[@richardmcdonald7329]

@@ironian24 Most guides say plant out April-May, so I guess they are quite hardy, they go in very deep and that should offer more protection, you can always cover them with fleece for added protection.

[@maestrovonhuge9397]

Cool advice, thank you, just getting into gardening and enjoy good practical advice

[@jillwright8196]

Thank you Ben! I always learn a lot from you and love the garden planner!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks Jill. :-)

[@timizzard4317]

Braise leeks in white wine, butter, and chicken stock. Use most of the white stems. Braise for half an hour. Delicious!

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds totally delicious!

[@pbsjones]

Rarely do I shout, "Nice root balls!", but I did. Thanks for showing us start to finish. It's so disappointing to watch an entire video and have it end just as the veg goes into the ground.

[@GrowVeg]

Glad you enjoyed the video. We've got a few other 'from sowing to harvest' videos in our collection - beets for example. Enjoy!

[@anniegaddis5240]

What grated cheese was used in the recipe?

[@pingupenguin2474]

Maybe too late for O.P. but to anyone else wondering, the grated cheese Brits usually mean, if its not specified, is Cheddar.

[@EmmaMG21]

Leeks and black olives stew- yum!

[@kitdubhran2968]

Thanks for the tips for growing and the recipe idea. I love leeks.

[@only-vans]

leek griddle scones to accompany a lamb and leek casserole, that's how we roll around South Yorkshire. I'm a fan of square foot gardening in VERY raised beds. 4 leeks per square foot. Thankfully Leeks can be grown in pots too, great for my small garden. As you can imagine, I do not plant anything in rows, I do not have a farm nor a tractor. I crowd plant everything, I harvest produce as baby veggies when they really need thinning, no waste.

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds like you have a really productive garden - fab work!

[@magicsurvivalist]

Very nice video! Your explanation was very clear, thanks for that! Culinary tips: 1- I love salty fried leeks with roasted (or even raw) salmon! 2- Just try fired leeks (with salt), walnuts and a pint of beer as a snack! Delicious! Let me know what you think about ;)

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for that - I'll try your recommendations.

[@piasepi]

A very timely video. I will sow seeds today. I will try using the block method this year. We still have a good crop of last year's leeks in the ground for use as required. One of our favourite recipes is French Leek Pie, similar to the cream and cheese recipe in the video but in pasty. Decadent but yummy.

[@GrowVeg]

Does sound yummy!

[@maggiecostello7755]

Thank you, this was a good introduction about leek growing 😀💐

[@PatsyMellen]

We had creamed leeks on the cruise ship and they were delicious! Great video

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds delicious! :-)

[@pilsplease7561]

Leek and potato soup is the best soup ever just saying it as it is. Thats why I grow leeks I love leek and potato soup

[@GrowVeg]

Agreed - sooo good!

[@anneobrien3878]

Thank you for the wonderful guidance as always. I'm just about to plant my leeks out in the ground just vacated by my potatoes. They've been potted on into bigger plant pots to 'hold' them for a while. I hope it works.

[@GrowVeg]

I'm sure it will work. Hope you get a good crop. :-)

[@sarahspear6201]

So I keep coming back to this awesome video. First at the oh let's learn. Then at the which leek seeds should I buy step. And every step along the way. Right now I'm planting up. Thank you for this amazing information. ❤️

[@GrowVeg]

You're very welcome Sarah - thanks so much for watching. :-)

[@cek7940]

We're trying to grow leeks for the first time this year, we just saw them in the grocery store...3 leeks for$5.00...wow!

[@GrowVeg]

That is extraordinarily expensive!

[@cek7940]

@@GrowVeg it is, I know! How much do they sell for in your area, do you know? We'll have to cherish every bite!

[@ambert.3792]

im growing leeks for the first time this year too. they had 4 starts for about 2bucks. but...i didnt plant them quite like this, so im hoping they take kindly to how they went in. fingers crossed for no weird pests either.

[@TeresaGriffith]

In January here in the UK I planted a few roots from supermarket leeks as I saw something on Facebook which said they would grow. I started them off in a disused plastic container in compost in the kitchen then planted outside and forgot. I could not believe the size of them in April. Will now wrap in cardboard to see what else happens! I am going to try parsnip and onion roots now as well.

[@rosewood513]

Excellent video. I think I will try these now.

[@insertcreativenamehere5473]

Here's another tip: Pick one of the leeks, grab a camera, hit the record button on the camera, spin the leek, put some Finnish background music, and your good to go!

[@markw5779]

I absolutely love this video,amongst others too,fantastic advice Ben,your videos are to the point,good tips and I love videos that go from germination right through to harvest,with the care and upkeep too,why not involve a few more recipe suggestions also to all your videos.it brings another branch of knowledge to the learning tree👍

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for the suggestion. We do include recipes from time to time, but will take this on board for future videos. Thanks for watching. :-)

[@iantregale3215]

interesting and useful I'm growing leeks right now their only a about 3-5 cm right now so I'm a little while from planting them out :) which thanks to you video I'm not going to do to soon now

[@elliebellie1983og]

Ahhh I didn’t know about letting the soil fall in gradually! I’ve had leeks in the ground over winter waiting for them to get wider… now I know what I did wrong! Aaand I get to enjoy the ones I’ve been waiting on 😏

[@PrairieJournals]

oh I love leeks...great video. New follower from Lethbridge Alberta Canada. Zone 3B

[@GrowVeg]

Awesome. Welcome!

[@edwardortman2593]

I have been looking up "winter leek growing" and all of the videos I can find appear to be from the UK... For me winter is a very different world as I live in the wilderness of Northern Idaho in the US. I quite enjoy leeks and after learning that they are good winter crops I checked through my seed packs and found two packages of them. Granted, right now I have one to two feet of snow on the ground (thankfully most of it has melted off no more 3 to 4 feet). I will likely have a few inches to a foot on ground for the next 6 to 8 weeks and then just intermittent snows after that. I have been planning on trying to grow squash/zucchini and pumpkins in the edges of my forest this year and I went scouting the forest today for areas that will get good southerly light while still being protected by the tree branches. While I was out I noticed that all of the soil beneath most of the trees is wide open with no snow, the soil is also quite moist . Could I plant leeks in under those trees where they good southern light exposure "now"? Would I need to germinate the seed inside and then maybe grow it outside in the covered porch like maybe in a milk jug greenhouse? Then transplant to soil under the trees and keep the milk jug atop it for protection for a while? There must be some relatively cold areas in the UK where people have experience with leeks in an "actual" winter like situation. Any advice or ideas?

[@GrowVeg]

Hi Edward. I would start your leeks off in early to mid spring - so around March. Start them off in pots or seed flats under cover or inside, then plant them out once they are pencil thickness around about May, when it should be a lot warmer. Anywhere with good sunshine and well-drained but moisture-retentive soil would be great for leeks.

[@edwardortman2593]

@@GrowVeg Part of my issue is that we can still be getting overnight lows in the low 20's the first week of July. Heck our overnight lows in the heat of mid august are commonly still in the low 40's though day time highs can be as high as 110F.. I had read that leeks will actually grow under the snow during winter as the snow actually insulates them. I was just looking for ideas that would allow me to protect them from the lower temps. Trying to get a garden to grow when you can have freezing temps in July and then again as early as the third week of September becomes a bit of a challenge. Why I am working on trying to get some ideas on strategies for the more extreme cold tolerant plants.

[@edwardortman2593]

I have some leeks started right now in milk jug containers here in the house. I have a massive amount of windows facing south and a large amount of growing area inside the house. (My house looks like a flowery jungle) lol... I was going to try and get them started inside as I figured the 58F to 60F temps inside would help seed germination. When they are going well I had planned to set them up sealed in the milk jugs out on the covered porch where I have the entire south wall made of old windows. The temps will be down to freezing or below often on the porch but daytime temps in the containers should generally be above freezing. I am hoping to get them out under trees in my southern forest by the time they are getting too tall for the milk jugs. I was then going to do a wire frame covered over with a 20 gallon clear garbage bag to help protect them until June or so. Then remove the bags and mulch around them in June to (hopefully) protect them from any hard overnight freezes. I am going to put them under my fir and spruce trees and cut enough branches so that they get at least 8 hours or so of good sun each day. I will leave the other branches hanging to the ground to help protect from weather and animals (or so the theory goes at this point). lol... I have been looking up every bit of information I can on winter growing of leeks but there is nothing that comes even close to what "we" call "winter" here in the Bitterroot mountains of northern Idaho.

[@anneclugston4273]

Thanks. Good video. I am in Perth about to head into summer and have bought some Elephant Leek seeds. I am looking forward to trying as I have never grown leeks before.

[@GrowVeg]

Good luck with them - enjoy!

[@jodibraun6383]

It made me want to cry, seeing the leek greens go straight to the compost! They might be a bit leathery when fresh, but they cook down and almost disintegrate into soups, stocks and stews. I'm growing leeks this year strictly for the greens, in fact. I can't eat the bulb of any onion, but I can eat the green part. So I'll be saving the greens, all chopped up in the freezer, and giving the white part to my parents. It's super difficult to find leeks with enough of the greens attached, so that I can use them. Not to mention it costs about $2 a leek at my local grocery store.That's why I decided to grow my own this year. But people, please, try the green part! It's delicious and oniony, just like the white part! And that makes leeks a 2-for-1 veggie for most gardeners! It's such a waste just tossing them in the compost without a second thought.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes indeed - don't waste the greens. I now use every part of the leek - the greens are delicious and great in soups etc.

[@Outlander929]

I'm wondering how heat tolerant leeks are? I have a tray of seedlings almost ready to plant out, but I'm worried they won't make it through the summer here. Top temps during peak summer can get up to 38C! Great videos, really enjoy them..

[@GrowVeg]

They are a cool season crop, so they may struggle. Just be sure to keep them watered so they aren't struggling.

[@jilldench1404]

Great video and well explained. Thanks x

[@rosemacaskie]

Should mention that one part of getting used to the great out doors is the plants getting used to ultra red light.

[@clarkac1]

Leeks used to be trouble free, but my 2019 crop in Derby, UK was ruined by leek moth. This year I'll be covering with mesh which so we'll see how that works out.

[@GrowVeg]

Good luck with this year's leeks Andy.

[@gardenladybackyard4897]

I have had exceptionally good luck with leeks. I have a small crop planted at the outside edge of my greenhouse (about 2 ft x 2 ft.) They thrive abundantly and weather over the winter. I have planted them only once and this is their 3rd year that they are producing. Do they reseed themselves? I had no idea that they would be this proliferate.

[@GrowVeg]

You would need to allow one or two plants to produce seeds, as leeks are usually harvested before they've had a chance to produce seed heads. But allow one or two plants to go to seed after the others have been harvested. The globe flowers are very pretty. You can then collect the seeds to sow either immediately or the following spring. Only collect seeds from open-pollinated, traditional varieties, not from F1 hybrids, which won't come true from seed.

[@gardenladybackyard4897]

Thanks! I needed to know that.

[@szumikovski]

Can you tell me when leeks can be planted? I know they take over 3 months, was wondering if I can plant in the fall?

[@GrowVeg]

The best time to plant them is early to midsummer. It is too late by fall as they need to do most of their growth before winter sets in. Unless you have mild winters of course, in which case you could probably get away with planting them later in the summer.

[@francesbatycki404]

Do you have a video on shallots? I know nothing about them or how to grow. Advice? ❤️❤️

[@GrowVeg]

Not yet Frances but that’s a great idea. They are grown similar to onions, from either seeds or sets.

[@brusselsprout5851]

For a super duper soup, slice and saute fresh asparagus, then add it to the pan and blend it with your immersion blender and the above mentioned mix. Oh, I add a little garlic, too, and more cream then above so that its a soup. Yep, its darn good.

[@GrowVeg]

It does sound jolly good!

[@user-rb7fi2wz6z]

I thought to suppose to remove all leeks before frozen. or I can leave them thru winter from New England? Should put cover the leeks?

[@GrowVeg]

Leeks are frost hardy, so you can leave them where they are in most climates. But in climates with harder winters - and I would suggest most of New England might fall into this category, you will need to harvest your leeks in the fall, before the ground freezes solid. This way you can store them in sand in a cool location, such as an unheated garage, to use as needed.

[@mydear6788]

This video is saved.... thanks

[@JansenTeam]

Great video. I love leeks! Do you think they will make it through the winter in a 5a zone?

[@GrowVeg]

Leeks are very hardy and cope well with the cold, but in your winters the ground is likely to freeze solid for weeks at a time, making it impossible to harvest the leeks. So ideally you'd need to lift what you need before this happens.

[@ipeefreely2364]

I'm starting leeks for the first time ever. From the looks of it they are less care free then regular bulb onions. Im trying to figure out what grows best in my soil n stick with that. So far Collard Greens and Summer Squashed n sweet peppers do amazing in my soil.

[@GrowVeg]

Great to work out what grows best - hopefully leeks will join your list. :-)

[@cxy.754]

Hatsune miku taking notes rn

[@rebaabbey7562]

I love your videos

[@ihopeugrow]

If my almost mature but not quite leeks get rust, can I still cook and eat the stalks or do they become inedible?

[@GrowVeg]

If you peel off the rust-affected area you could still eat the unaffected parts, yes.

[@pellcio]

Would leek be feasible in climes such as Los Angeles? Late April sowing too late in the season?

[@GrowVeg]

I think in LA you should get away with sowing now as you can enjoy a longer growing season.

[@davidshafer1872]

I saved the roots from the last time I bought leeks at the market. If I replant the roots how many times will new leeks grow out of them?

[@GrowVeg]

You will probably get some fresh leaves by doing that. But she won’t get a full stem again like a proper leek But worth growing for some fresh onion tasting greens.

[@rickabrams3422]

hi and thank you. never grown leeks but will now. how do you store them over winter?

[@GrowVeg]

Most leeks will stand in the ground, as they are, over the winter months as they are a winter crop. So they can be left as they are. They will store in the fridge for about ten days.

[@rickabrams3422]

@@GrowVegeven better - thanks

[@thersten]

excellent video! thank you.

[@dianecook6622]

You say in the video that now is the time to sow your leek seeds, but I have no idea when the video was filmed. What time of year do I sow the seeds? I am in a cool climate zone.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, good point Diane! Leeks are best sown in mid-spring. In the UK that would be around April to May.

[@dianecook6622]

GrowVeg thanks for that. I am a n Victoria, Australia. So, that would make it October.

[@gazzalanche]

I have some Leeks in mini greenhouses to start and they have become very long and very leggy. How can I manage them to start growing stringer and healthier? They are far from being ready to be potted out of the greenhouse. Many thanks!

[@GrowVeg]

Make sure they are getting plenty of light and that they being kept moist. If they are getting too leggy you may find it best to plant them as soon as possible, so they get more light and space between them.

[@gazzalanche]

@@GrowVeg Excellent, thank you. Is trimming the length of them an option? Or is that more for older stronger seedlings or onions and shallots etc?

[@Cherryparfait41]

First time growing leeks! I just harvested the last two (miss them already!) to use in a butternut squash soup. Wow, what a treat having lovely things from the garden even in winter! Next I’ll be starting my own from seed. Not sure of the variety I had grown...but, they seemed hardy. If you grow a shorter season variety, what can you do to preserve the harvest?

[@Beaguins]

I've never heard of preservation methods for leeks, but I expect they would freeze well. Since they hold well in the ground they are normally harvested as needed. They should last even into the spring if you've planted a late variety. To have leeks year-round it may be good to plant both an early variety and a late variety.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, they would freeze well - you can buy pre-chopped leeks in the grocery store, so there's no reason you wouldn't be able to prepare and freeze leeks at home. Leeks are a great standby for soups - in fact I'll be enjoying a homemade leek and potato soup for lunch. :-)

[@alialwajeeh9009]

Thank you so much I love your videos 😊

[@francesbatycki404]

I want to start leeks in a seed tray. Should it be fairly deep? Or deeper than most seed trays?

[@GrowVeg]

Any seed tray would be fine, so long as you are moving the seedlings on early enough. Perhaps a depth of at least 6in (15cm) is preferable if you are growing them in the trays up to planting size.

[@francesbatycki404]

@@GrowVeg - thank you so much!

[@waterlilypond111]

Please give me the site for the garden guide when to start seeding

[@GrowVeg]

Hi there. You can find all the details on the Garden Planner, including the option to give it a free trial, at: www.growveg.com

[@alanoliver5378]

I'm new to this, I'm starting my first veg plot next year, I'll have three raised beds, where do the leaks go? With the onions, or other veg?

[@GrowVeg]

Leeks are alliums, so best to include them with other alliums like onions and garlic to aid crop rotation.

[@alanoliver5378]

Thanks for that, 😉

[@mirabilo]

If you harvest the leek by cutting it at ground level does it grow back?

[@GrowVeg]

You might get some leafy growth coming back, but you won't get a new proper stem to use.

[@HongJosephine]

Sifu You, Genius😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊Thanks

[@alexelpida7210]

Fantastic video, thank you!

[@ironian24]

Can you plant leeks if there is a chance of frost ?

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, if there is going to be a light frost it should be fine.

[@ChristopherPisz]

How do you know if you are overwatering or not? Some of my leeks have loose layers in their stalk. I wonder if I am watering too much and making them rot.

[@GrowVeg]

It's hard to overwater in hot, dry conditions, so I would usually err on the side of caution by offering plenty of water. You can tell if the soil is overly wet if it is continually saturated - heavy and claggy. Maybe let it dry off about an inch beneath the surface between waterings.

[@carilynn7043]

Hello, My leeks haven't really done much growing at all this year. They are just now starting to take off and it is August! They are still thin and spindly. Can I leave them in the ground through the fall/winter to harvest later? I am in USDA zone 5b.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, you can leave them where they are to dig up as needed.

[@jeannewilliams956]

I never know when to stop watering them before harvesting

[@GrowVeg]

There's no need to necessarily stop watering. Just water consistently in hot, dry weather, or not at all if it's cool and wet.

[@stephenlarbi4608]

how many months does it take please?

[@GrowVeg]

Growing leeks, from sowing to harvest, can take from five to ten months, depending on the variety you grow and when you sow it. Some are ready to harvest from early autumn, while others happily overwinter to give you leeks right through to the start of the following spring.

[@Erika70079]

Awesome video, thank you!! I planted little leek seedlings about a month ago but did not did a proper hole like the how you've shown. Would it be best to dig them up (I only have about 15) and dig deeper or should I just put tubes around them now? Thank you.

[@GrowVeg]

I'd leave them as they are now. You could just try banking up the earth around the stems as they grow to help them blanch that way.

[@Erika70079]

@@GrowVeg okay, thank you!

[@bertinabeng8393]

I don't think there're better videos. Or if there're, well, I don't want them... this is good enough! I tried carrots last time and they're doing well now, so in my next garden season, I want to use leeks to confuse the carrot flies. hahahhhaha... thanks for the clues and the details.

[@GrowVeg]

No worries at all - thanks for watching. :-)

[@carolparrish194]

I only grew leeks once and it was a disaster. I bought the slips {bare root}. I recently learned that elephant garlic is actually in the leek family. What do you know? I have been growing them without knowing it. The only thing is that leeks are started from seed and elephant garlic is started from cloves or seeds. I bought Giant Musselburgh leek seeds and I think they are for fall growing and have already planted some in trays. Will I still be able to harvest any. Should I wait until late summer to start new plants to grow through the winter?

[@GrowVeg]

You can start leeks off in spring with a view to planting them out in early summer. You then harvest them any time between Septembers and about March, depending on the variety. Leeks have a quite a long growing season but are such a valuable fall/winter crop.