Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, leeks are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing leeks.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Do Leeks Belong To?
Leeks (Allium porrum) belong to the Alliaceae family, also known as the allium or onion family.
Some of their relatives include onions, garlic, and shallots.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Leeks?
The minimum container depth recommended for leeks is 8 inches.
Read more about this in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Leeks?
Some of leeks' best companions are as follows:
- Carrot, since leeks repel carrot fly
- Celery
- Lovage
- Onion
- Beet
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Apple
- Parsley
- Garlic
- Tomato
- Strawberry
- Parsnip
- Broccoli, cauliflower, and other Brassicas
- Rose
- Toothache plant
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Leeks?
Leeks are not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with leeks are as follows:
- Beans like green beans
- Pea
- Peanut
- Fenugreek
- Most other plants in the Fabaceae family
What Soil Conditions Do Leeks Need?
Leeks prefer fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of 6-7.
How Long Do Leeks Take to Germinate?
Leeks take 5-7 days to germinate at a temperature of 45-95°F.
How Much Sun Do Leeks Need?
Leeks need at least 8 hours of sun per day.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and leeks grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Do Leeks Need?
Leeks need 1 inch of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Leeks?
Leeks grow fastest in temperatures of 55-75°F.
This is their ideal temperature range. Although they will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some leek varieties are bred for later harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Do Leeks Get?
The average height of leeks is 2-3 feet.
Are Leeks Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Leeks are biennial, meaning that their life cycle spans 2 years, and they flower, produce seed, and die in their second year.
How Do Leeks Reproduce?
Leeks reproduce by seed. They produce seed pods in the heads of the flowers that develop in their second year.
Leeks can also reproduce by shoots, though this is not as consistent as reproduction by seed.
How Many Leeks Are Produced Per Plant?
Leeks produce one bulb per plant. Each plant also produces many leaves and stalks.
Can Leeks Be Ingested?
Leek bulbs, leaves, stalks, and roots are edible.
Leek bulbs have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are herbal honeys and broths. Leeks can also be dehydrated, powdered, and put into capsules.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting leek bulbs, leaves, stalks, or roots.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of leeks rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for leeks here!
Leeks are featured in these Plant to Plate articles: