Planting leeks »Tips & tricks for a rich harvest

At which location does leek ripen?

Leek is one of the sun worshipers as well as one of the strong eaters. These two attributes largely determine the choice of location:

• sunny, well sheltered, warm location
• nutrient-rich, humus soil
• fresh, moist and well drained

When is planting time?

Thanks to a strategically clever combination of summer and winter leeks, healthy vegetables can be found in your garden all year round season. If you are behind glass in January sowing make, plant in the heated one in February / March Cold frame. Optionally outdoors from 20 degrees Celsius.

Winter-hardy varieties should be planted as young plants from May to August in order to enjoy them throughout the winter. Direct sowing outdoors is not advisable due to the many risks involved Pest infestation.

How are leeks properly planted?

When the hand-grown or pre-purchased young plants are planted in the ground depends on their variety. For the actual planting process, you have the choice between two different methods:

Growing leeks in planting holes:

• Weeding the bedding soil thoroughly, loosening it and using the Rake smooth
• Poke 15 cm deep holes with the wood and insert the leeks

Planting leeks in trenches

• Draw trenches 20 cm deep in the bed
• the excavation remains between the rows
• Place young plants in such a way that their green leaves are still clearly visible

Whichever planting method you choose; In the last step, the leek plants are carefully slurried. The earth must not be pressed against it. In the following weeks, pile up the stalks repeatedly so that nice, creamy-white shafts develop.

The correct planting distance

The following plant spacing offers the best growth and sufficient freedom of movement for maintenance work:

• Distance within the row: 10 cm to 15 cm
• Row spacing: 20 cm (when growing in a trench: 40 cm)

What should be considered when harvesting?

Summer leek definitely has enough growth energy for a double harvest. So cut the ripe poles off just above the ground in the first pass. In good weather conditions, narrower sprouts thrive again, but have not lost any of their taste.

Since winter leek will not grow back depending on the time of year, dig up each sprout when harvesting. On a frost-free day, the ground is covered with the in the morning hours Digging fork loosened up to pull the leek stalks out of the ground in the afternoon.

Tips & Tricks

Even the particularly hardy leek varieties cannot tolerate a sudden change between frost and thaw. Under such stress, the tissue cells tear and the vegetables become inedible. It is therefore advisable to protect winter leeks with a film or to pile them up thickly with earth and leaves.