How to grow Leek in Australia
Grow in full sun in deep, fertile soil enriched with compost. Transplant young seedlings into deep holes and water them in to settle, which helps blanch the stems.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 5 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 15 cm
- Time to harvest: 120 days
- Time to germinate: 14 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to July | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to July | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to August | Long cool-season window; July plantings mature through winter. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to August | Sow Feb to Jun, transplant spring/early summer. Melbourne winter hardens bulks; frost-hardy. |
| Adelaide & SA | March to July | |
| Perth & WA | February to May | Sow trays Feb to May in bright shade, transplant pencil thick seedlings Apr to Jun. Grows steadily through the mild winter. |
| Tasmania | August to November | Sow Aug to Nov, transplant pencil-thick seedlings in summer, harvest all winter. A Tasmanian staple. |
| Canberra & ACT | September to January | Sow Sep to Jan, transplant pencil thick seedlings. Fully frost hardy; stands in the ground all winter. |
| North Queensland | May to July | Dry season May to Jul. Leek needs cool temps; sow early in dry season. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to July | Dry season May to Jul. Leek needs cool temps; sow early in dry season. |
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
- Legumes
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Lift once the white stem is a useful thickness, as size, not age, is the cue. Ease them out with a fork rather than pulling, since the roots hold firm.
Storage
Fridge unwrapped, up to 2 weeks.