Growing and Planting Leeks

You'll find cold weather is no impediment when you grow leeks, a subtle yet flavorful cousin to onions and garlic.

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Photo by Walter Chandoha
Grow leeks and you'll find they're delicious and nutritious, and hardy in cold weather.

Learn about growing leeks from seed starting indoors to transplanting outside and harvesting through winter to enjoy in soups or stews.

A growing number of American gardeners and cooks are discovering that they love to grow leeks and cook leeks (Allium porrum). Though the leek was prized by Egyptian pharaohs, Roman emperors and European kings, it seems its sweet, subtle flavor has been upstaged in recent years by onions and garlic, its more assertive cousins. Big in size and deliciously mild in flavor, leeks are wonderfully versatile in the kitchen. You can use them cooked or uncooked; in soups, stews, casseroles and salads; or prepared simply on their own for an easy and satisfying winter dish. What’s more, leeks are one of the most durable vegetables you can grow. By selecting the right varieties, you can enjoy this tasty, nutritious crop year-round — including the dead of winter — making it a must for both home and market gardens.

Leek Longevity

You’ll find several leek varieties in seed catalogs, usually grouped by harvest time: summer, fall and winter. Most leeks can be harvested over a long period of time; in fact, the most cold-hardy varieties will maintain their good quality for months in the ground. “That’s the beauty of cold-hardy crops,” says John Navazio, director of education and research for the Organic Seed Alliance in Port Townsend, Wash. “Even though growth slows from around mid-October until early March, you can still harvest them at any time.” (Leek plants are biologically programmed to survive the winter months so they can flower and produce seed the second year.) Depending on snow cover and how far north you live, you’ll need to add enough leaves or straw to keep the ground from freezing so you can continue to harvest your leeks during the cold months. (Plastic bags of leaves work great, and are easy to remove when it’s time to dig.)

  • Updated on Oct 3, 2023
  • Originally Published on May 28, 2008
Tagged with: leeks, plant roots, planting leeks
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