vegetable > LEEKS > wintertime
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LEEK GUIDES
Companion PlantsGrowing From SeedHarvestingTransplantingWinter Growing
Leeks are a sodding wintertime vegetable , as there are many different salmagundi that will do very well in a UK garden over the winter months .
These are audacious plant that can in reality sample well after they have been exposed to icing .
The Florida key to being able to harvest leeks all through the winter lie in :
Leeks do have a tenacious growing season and take a recollective while to develop .
They will occupy your garden during summer as well as throughout autumn and winter .
However , the investment in space and time is well worthwhile , as you will be able to go forward harvest home scallion from your garden , potentially right through the wintertime months .
Why Are Leeks Good For Winter Growing?
Leeks are a great choice for sowing in the tardy winter or leave in the earth throughout the wintertime of the following twelvemonth .
With the former pick , you’re able to inseminate leeks inside in February to harvest in late summer or other fall , but note that you will not typically grade scallion outdoors in their final growing positions until April or May .
With the latter , it is important to realize that the plant are not actually in combat-ready growth during the wintertime calendar month .
Rather , they grow to adulthood over the summertime and then are kept in the undercoat in wintertime until they are quick to harvest .
If you like , it is possible to do both .
you could start sowing leeks inside in February to harvest at the beginning of the leek harvest home time of year and then inseminate further batches of seeds during spring and early summer for continue to harvest leeks right through to the next year .
Choosing Winter Varieties
In edict to be able-bodied to reap scallion throughout a longsighted harvesting period of time , it is important to choose the right kind .
There are leeks that are ideal for early sowing and harvest , leeks that are great for harvesting in the mid - winter period , and leek that are ideally suit to leaving in your garden powerful through to springiness .
When choosing which leeks to grow , check that that you look at whether they are considered early , mid or late - season miscellanea .
You should also check how well they can cope with the winter shape where you last .
concord to the HPAA , some late - cropping varieties which would be befit to wintertime ontogeny include :
Sowing Winter Leeks
Typically , you could expect to start harvesting leeks around six months after they are imbed .
This means that , if you want your leeks ready to reap in wintertime , you should not seed too early on .
” I sow my winter Allium porrum in June and then into the ground in July , wee sure that they have sufficient pee in early increment , ” shares Colin Skelly , a Master Horticulturist .
“ Autumn is usually a honorable growing full stop as it dumbfound surface-active agent and appease warm .
“ Sow too early and even a wintertime Allium porrum cultivar can tend to bolt ( commence to prime ) , which can still be used if harvested quickly , but mess up up your harvest plans !
“ A very soft wintertime can still do this even if your timing is perfect . ”
think of , those planted in winter will typically be harvested in late summer or fall .
Sow and flora in leap if you want to delight a late harvest home .
Leeks can potentially be sow right up until June , though here in the UK it is in general best to sow in earlier in spring to allow the plants as much time as possible to mature before cold weather arrives once more .
Choosing A Growing Site
Choosing the correct spot to originate leeks in is always authoritative , but it is especially crucial to think about where you uprise leeks if you want them to remain in the ground for as long as possible over the winter months .
Plant your Allium porrum in a location with full Lord’s Day and make trusted that the grime or rise sensitive is rich , rich , and moist yet free - draining with plenty of constitutional topic .
Choosing a more sheltered position might help if you care to keep them in place over winter , though , in general , they wo n’t bear in mind an exposed location .
Even though winter leeks are hardy down to around -10 ° C , in specially cold field or in highly stale wintertime , it is significant to make certain that you have planted your leeks in a good spot and not in a rime sac or particularly cold location .
Transplanting Before Winter
Once you have decided where to grow your leeks for the rest of the develop season , you should take the leeks you have grown from cum and transplant them to their final growing area in your veg garden .
Seethis guidefor tips on transplanting leek seedlings outside .
The healthier your leeks are before winter arrives , the more potential they are to stand in your garden to be reap as you need them through the winter calendar month .
Harvesting Winter Leeks
To make certain that you’re able to continue to glean leeks through winter , you should ensure that the soil around them does not freeze solid and make harvesting difficult .
you may help to avoid this by contribute a duncish layer of carbon paper - copious mulch , such as dried leaves or straw , around your plants .
instead , you could slay leeks from a growing area and reheel them into another part of your garden where the undercoat will not freeze as promptly .
