SCIENTIFIC NAME :Allium porrum
CULTURE :
CULTURE:A large, upright, non-bulbing type of Allium. Matures to long, thick, blanched shanks topped with 1-1 1/2″ wide flat leaves. Leeks are heavy feeders and require fertile soil (pH of 6.2-6.8) for best results.
GROWING SEEDLINGS:Sow in flats in Feb.-March, 1/4″ apart, 1/4″ deep. Transplant to 1 1/2″ plug flats when large enough to handle, or start in plug flats, thinning to one plant per cell.
TRANSPLANTING:Beginning in late spring, when approx. 8″ tall and pencil-thick, transplant outdoors 6″ apart, rows 24″ apart in holes dibbled about 6″ deep. Only 1-2″ of leaves need to extend above the soil surface. Do not firm soil – allow irrigation or rain to fill in the dibble hole.DIRECT SEEDING:Sow in early spring, 6 seeds/ft., 1/4- 1/2″ deep, in rows 24″ apart. Thin to 6″.
BLANCHING:During the growing period hill the plants with soil 2 or 3 times, higher with each hoeing. This forces the leaves higher up the plant resulting in extra long blanched stalks and a much greater edible portion. When using the “dibble method,” hilling is reduced or eliminated.
HARVEST:When plants reach desired size, loosen with a spading fork and lift plant.
STORAGE:Clean leeks and store several weeks at near freezing in a humid cooler in boxes, or store in a root cellar with roots in moist soil/sand/peat mix.
DAYS TO MATURITY:From transplanting; add 20-30 days if direct seeding.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:1,000 seeds/165′, 1 oz./1,650′, 11 oz. or 105M/acre at 6 seeds/ft. in rows 30″ apart.
TRANSPLANTS:Avg. 1 oz./6,000 plants, 1 lb./96,000.
SEED SPECS:SEEDS/OZ.: 7,700-10,700 (avg. 9,400).
PACKET:250 seeds, sows 38-40′ or 140 transplants unless otherwise noted.
