edenhana

Leek

Hardy and slow-growing; mound soil up the stems as they grow to blanch and lengthen the edible white shaft.

Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
15cm
Harvest
Ready in 150-190 days
Difficulty
intermediate
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Expected yield
1 leek per plant
Cost to grow
~$6 NZD
Grocery value
~$25 NZD
Companion plants
Carrots, Celery, Onions, Strawberries
Plants to avoid nearby
Beans, Peas, Parsley
Common diseases
Rust, White rot
Common pests
Leek moth, Thrips

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: August-November. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: September-November. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-October.

Growing stages

  1. Germination & sowing

    • Slow to germinate, patience is needed in the early weeks
    • Keep the seed bed consistently moist for even germination
    • Thrips can target young seedlings

  2. Seedling & establishment

    • Usually started in a seed bed or trays and transplanted once pencil-thick
    • Leek moth larvae can tunnel into young leaves
    • Water in well after transplanting to reduce transplant shock

  3. Vegetative growth

    • Mound soil up the stems as they grow to blanch and lengthen the white shaft
    • Rust can appear on leaves in humid weather
    • White rot risk in soil where alliums have grown recently

  4. Harvest150-190 days from sowing

    • Ready from about 150-190 days, a slow-growing crop that rewards patience
    • Rust or white rot appearing late in the season, lift and use affected plants promptly rather than leaving them
    • Leek moth damage may show as browning tips, trim away affected leaves at harvest

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