Leek crop sheet

Sowing

When: February to April

Leeks are slow to grow, so it is best to start them off indoors, in a cold frame or in a small seed bed. This will allow you to sow, grow and harvest fast growing crops like lettuce, radish and beetroot in the time it takes for your leeks to grow to a size where they are ready to plant out into the ground. 

Indoors

1. Fill a seed tray or modular tray with compost. Tap the bottom of the tray on a table or workbench to level off the compost, this will also help remove any large spaces in the compost. If the soil surface in the tray still isn't level then use the bottom of another tray and press it gently into the compost to make the surface flat. Doing this means you will have a nice flat soil surface so you can see the tiny leek seeds when you sow them. By not having 'hills or valleys' in the compost, you will have more success with growing your leek seedlings. 
2. In a seed tray make a drill (channel) in the compost 1.5cm deep. Use a ruler or plant label as a guide to keep the drill straight and to make sure the drill is the correct depth.
3. Take a pinch of the leek seeds and sprinkle them along the drill evenly until you have a continuous row of seeds. If you find that the seeds are too small for this you could use a seed sower as an aid. Alternatively, use a modular tray and try to sow two leek seeds in each module for the best success rate. 
4. Cover the seeds and gently firm the compost above with the bottom of another tray or your hand. Water the seeds by placing the seed tray into a tray without any holes, called a 'soak-up tray'. Fill this tray half full with water, place the seed tray into it and allow to soak for 30minutes to an hour or until the surface of the compost is damp. Watering in this way prevents the water droplets from a watering can or hose, dislodging the tiny leek seeds and making 'hills or valleys' in the soil.
5. Label the seed tray with the named leek variety and date on the back. 
6. When the seedlings are about 4cm tall, thin them out so there is about 2.5cm between each one. Remove any weak leek seedlings. Keep watering the leeks in dry weather.

Outdoors

1. Prepare the bed in the autumn by adding well-rotted manure or compost. This will help add the nutrients your leeks need to grow. 
2. Make a drill (channel) in the soil 1.5cm deep. If you're using a trowel to make the drill then use a measuring stick or string to keep the drill straight. Alternatively push a bamboo cane horizontally into the soil to the correct depth.
3. Take one pinch of the leek seeds at a time and sprinkle them evenly along the drill until you have a continuous row of seeds. 
4. Cover the seeds with soil and then firm it down with the back of a trowel. Water the drill using a watering can with a rose. Label the row and make another drill 30cm away and do the same again.
5. When the seedlings are about 4cm tall, thin them out so there is about 2.5cm between each one. Keep watering the crops in dry weather and remove any weeds.

Growing

Plant out: May to July

• When the leeks are pencil thick, transplant them into their final growing place. You can do this by carefully removing them from their seed tray or lifting them from the ground with a fork or trowel. 
• With a dibber, make a hole wider than the leek but only one third of the depth of the leek's stem (roughly 15cm deep depending on the leek variety you have chosen). The part of the plant growing below ground will become white or 'blanched'. Drop the young leek plant into the centre of the hole and tease a bit of loose soil around its roots. Now water in your leeks, no need to fill the soil around their stems as the leek plants will now grow to fill the hole.  
• If you grow your leeks in a trench, as they grow they can be earthed up like potatoes to produce longer white stems. 

Harvesting

Harvest: September to February

• You can start harvesting your leeks from September, although they may be rather small still. If you harvest between your leeks (e.g. every 2nd or 4th leek) it will allow the remaining ones to grow larger. Remember the longer they are in the soil the larger they will get. 
• You can leave leeks in the ground over the cold winter months as most varieties are frost hardy. However you can cover them with fleece for extra protection from very hard frosts and snow. 
• To harvest your leeks carefully lift them from the soil with a fork. This will prevent damage to their roots and base. 

Using

• Cut off the long leaves before cooking or eating your leeks.
• Make sure you thoroughly wash off all the soil from your leeks before using. 
• Leeks are a brilliant vegetable to add to a number of dishes including, soups, pies, tarts, risotto or quiche.  They even taste delicious on their own, fried with a little bit of butter. Yum!
• You could always try this Root vegetable gratin dauphinoise from chef Antony Worrall Thompson.
• If you prefer soup you could try these delicious recipes featured in The Big Soup Share created by Kindergardencooks; Perfect potato and leek soup or Magnificent Minestrone soup.