The leek is a very versatile plant and can be grown in any climate. Whether you have a large yard, a small deck, or just a sunny window at home, you can grow leeks and enjoy the fresh and tangy taste of onions in your salads, soups and casseroles. Read the following article to learn some ways to grow this easy vegetable.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Growing Chives from Seeds or Seeds
Step 1. Select the type of onion you want to grow
Leeks are green shoots that grow before the onion bulbs begin to form. Basically they are onions that are still green. Look for leek seedlings, such as the A. Welsh onion species (Japanese leek), or simply choose your favorite red, white, or onion for planting.
If you prefer not to grow leeks from seed, choose onions, whites or scallions for planting. These look like bare roots of tiny tubers that have been tied with string or rubber bands. You can choose some cloves to grow as leeks, and let the others grow into bulbs
Step 2. Prepare the planting area
Choose a spot in your yard or garden that gets full sun and has well-draining soil. Dig up to 30 cm of soil and use compost, blood meal, or other organic matter to enrich the soil with nutrients. This will ensure that the leeks grow strong and healthy, and continue to produce shoots throughout the growing season.
- Make sure the rocks, branches and weeds are cleared before you dig and work the soil.
- You can dig up the soil with a garden broom if you are working on a small plot. For larger areas, buy or rent a cultivator to make the job easier.
- If you only want to plant a few leeks, you can prepare a pot with compost-rich soil instead of planting it in the ground.
Step 3. Plant the seeds or cloves
As soon as the soil is usable, about four weeks before the end of spring, it's time to plant the seeds or cloves you've prepared. If you have seedlings, sow generously about 1.5 cm deep in rows spaced 0.3 m apart. If you have cloves, plant them root-side down, 5 cm apart and 3 cm deep, in rows spaced 0.3 m apart. Water the garden area thoroughly.
- Onion seedlings will sprout when the soil is between 65-86 degrees Fahrenheit (18, 33 - 30 degrees Celsius). It will take up to about a month for the onion seeds to germinate.
- If you live in a cold climate with late spring, you can start planting seedlings indoors about eight weeks before spring ends. Plant the seedling in peat seed as a starting pot and keep it watered. Place in a warm room and exposed to light during the sprouting period. When the soil outside is warm enough to work with, move the seedlings to a garden or larger pot.
Step 4. Trim the plant if needed
When the first green shoots start to emerge, decide whether to remove them to make more room. Leeks grow well in bunches, but for best results mature plants should be spaced 6-9 cm apart. Look at your planting area and remove bad seedlings if necessary.
Step 5. Sprinkle plant debris between the seedlings
Cover the soil around the seedlings with grass clippings, pine straw or fine pieces of tree bark. This will prevent weeds from growing and keep the soil evenly moist.
If you're growing leeks in pots, you can skip this step, as weeds won't be a problem and you can more easily control humidity levels
Step 6. Keep the plant watered regularly
Leeks need even soil moisture during the growing season. Provide onion plants with 3 cm of water per week. For optimal growth, the soil does not need to be wet, but it does need to be moist. Water the planting area every few days or when it starts to look dry and dusty.
Another way to determine if onions need watering is to test the soil conditions. Insert your finger, up to the second knuckle, in the part of the soil that is close to the plant. If you feel that the soil is dry, water it. If you feel the soil is wet enough, don't worry about watering, and repeat the test in a few days. If your area has been raining recently, you may not need to water
Step 7. Harvest the leeks when they are fully grown
After three to four weeks, the green shoots will be 15-20 cm long and ready to eat. Harvest by pulling the entire plant from the soil. The plant still has no tubers formed. Both the white and green parts of the leek will have a fragrant aroma and taste.
- If you want to let some plants grow into onions, just leave them in the ground. The underside of the plant will begin to form tubers, which will be ready for harvest in the fall.
- If you only want to use the green part of the leek, and not the white part near the root, you can use a pair of scissors to snip off the top green part. Leave 3-6 cm of plants. The leeks will continue to grow and you can harvest the greens again when they are 15-20 cm long. Note that the scallions will become stronger in taste as the plant matures.
Method 2 of 3: Growing Scallions in Indoor Pots
Step 1. Select the onion for planting
Choose onion or white cloves for planting. Available at your local nursery, these look like bare root tubers tied with string or rubber bands. Any type of leek will produce quality leeks, and they all grow well in indoor pots.
Step 2. Prepare a pot that is rich in compost soil
Leeks grow best in very rich soil, so choose potting soil that has been enriched with compost - or mixed with compost alone with standard potting soil. Fill the pot a few inches from the top. Water the soil to prepare it for planting. Make sure the pot you use has good drainage, so the soil never gets soaked.
Step 3. Plant the cloves
Soil each onion 3 cm deep, pointing root side down. Gently pat the soil on it. Space them 5-6 cm apart to give them some space to form roots without crowding each other. Water the onions and place the pot in your sunniest window.
- You can grow leeks indoors any time of year, as long as you maintain the right conditions. Onions need full sun, so they should be placed in a window that receives light throughout the day. Make sure the temperature never drops below freezing.
- Keep the soil evenly moist. Water every few days, or when the soil looks dry. Do not over-water the onions, although the soil should be moist, but not soggy.
Step 4. Harvest the green parts when they reach 15-20 cm
After a few weeks, the top green part will appear and grow. Either pull the plant out of the pot to use the white and green parts, or use scissors to cut off the top green parts and leave the tubers to continue growing. If you leave bulbs in pots, you should get at least one more harvest before they stop producing.
Method 3 of 3: Growing Scallions in Glass Bottles
Step 1. Save the leek bulbs
Next time you buy a leek to use in a recipe, save the white part with the root and eat only the green part. You can grow more scallions using just the remaining part of the root - and the next time you want to add flavor to your food, you'll have your own scallions.
Any leek bulb can be used, but you may have the best results and odds if you use scallions grown in your area. That way you know they can grow well in your climate. Try starting with the scallions you buy at the farmers market, as they may grow in your area
Step 2. Place the onions rooted down in a glass jar
Any type of clean glass bottle can be used. Just make sure the glass is clean, and unpainted, so that sunlight can easily reach the onions inside. Place as many leek roots as you want - just make sure the roots are facing down, so the green part grows up and out of the bottle.
Step 3. Add water and sun
Pour in enough water to cover the entire tuber. Set the bottle in a sunny window and wait for the magic to happen. Within a few days, you will see the roots begin to elongate. Small green shoots will emerge from the bulbs and begin to grow upwards. Keep the bottle filled with enough water to cover the white part of the onion.
Step 4. Harvest the green parts
After reaching 10-15 cm, the leeks are ready to be harvested. Remove the scallions from the jar and chop as many of them as you want - or use all of them. If you need a handful of chopped scallions, you can return the bulbs and roots to the jar to continue growing. You should be able to harvest the same onion 2-3 times before it stops growing.
If you choose to continue growing leeks, change the water every week or so to keep them fresh
Tips
- You can start seedlings indoors about six to eight weeks before the growing season begins, and then transplant them into the ground outside. If growing leeks from seeds doesn't appeal to you, you can buy plants already grown from a flower or plant store.
- Water more regularly if you are growing onions in containers, as the soil usually dries out faster.
- When using onions, leave about 3 cm above the roots for replanting. Replanting will keep you with a steady supply of leeks throughout the season.
- Onions should be planted in full sun. If possible, maintain a soil pH balance of 6.0 to 7.5. This will provide optimal growing conditions for the onions.
- Watch out for rotten roots! This occurs when the plant is in stagnant water for too long. If it grows in a bottle, change the water frequently, perhaps weekly or sooner.
Items You Need
- Onion seeds or cloves
- Land
- Pots (optional)
- Compost
- Water
