Temperature Is Critical In Growing Leeks

Leeks are a biennial allium, whose tribe includes onions, garlic, shallots and chives. This white stalked plant is mild, sweet, onion flavored, with a stronger flavored green top. The success of the plant growth is dependent on cool, but not freezing temperatures for optimal growth cycle. With careful planning and consideration of seasonal temperatures, nitrogen rich soil and adequate moisture, especially in the beginning, growing leeks will be a productive endeavor that adds freshness and health to dining pleasure.

The most difficult part of growing is gearing the planting for cool temperatures, and avoiding a frost with seedlings. Quality suffers with growth in hot summers. In areas of mild winters, leeks can be planted in the fall and with proper mulching will perform well, but will not survive extremes of cold and snow. In the north, they are best planted in the spring for a fall harvest. The quality of the flavor is enhanced with mounded soil surrounding the stem, where it will blanch it white. Gradually, throughout the season, continue to add soil.

Although similar to onions and garlic plants, the difference is that the leek is non-bulbing. Low in calories, high in iron, vitamins B6 and C, folate and fiber, the prime edible portion is the stalk, with the leaves creating excellent leek and potato soup. Baby leeks, like baby carrots, are a tender, delicious vegetable.

Once seeds have matured with the stalk width roughly the size of a pencil, the seedlings are ready to be planted in the outdoor garden. Room for growth is at 4-6 inches between plants in rows spaced 10″ apart. Depth of the composted soil is optimal at 6″, covered up to the first leaf, with the remainder of the hole left empty. Throughout the growth cycle, this opening is gradually filled with mounds of soil that encourage blanching of the stalk for tenderness. Complimentary plantings are carrots, celery and onions.

Although the grocery store leeks are usually large, it is difficult to deny the appeal of direct from the garden freshness at the table. Techniques such as maintaining gradual hilling of the soil at the stalk level for blanching, encourages tender, flavor-enhanced vegetation. The practice of wrapping each stalk in parchment is unnecessary to achieve prize-winning stature in this vegetable. Cutting the top segment of the leaves encourages greater sized leeks ready for harvest after ten-weeks.

Gardening does not require herculean efforts, just weeding while the plants are small and maintaining hilled soil at the stems for tender, white stalks. This plant seldom experiences damage through disease or insect infestations with plant rotation. Harvesting is accomplished when stalks reach diameters of 1″ or larger.

The structure of the plant encourages dirt collection. Ground level leaves over the course of the season allow soil accumulation to become enmeshed in the leaves. The best approach for gentle yet thorough cleaning is covering the produce in a pan of water to rest. The soil will loosen and float free before final rinsing.

Garden freshness in frozen vegetables picked at the peak of ripeness is attained by immersion in ice water prior to freezing. The ice bath stops the ripening process for abating spoilage. At a roughly a dollar apiece, growing leeks is a satisfying endeavor in many ways.

Susan Morgan authors articles on all sorts of home and vegetable gardening subjects Be sure to view one of her favorite articles on growing leeks.