Grow Leeks

Consider learning to grow leeks in your garden. I grew them several years ago. It was not at all difficult. It just takes a while. David's Garden Seeds® has several varieties of leek seeds for sale.

Grow Leeks - 7/13-7/19/2026

Grow Leeks - Flavor From Leeks, Onions, Shallots, And Bunching Onions

Freshly harvested leeks...

If you want bigger flavor from your backyard, you should make room for leeks. They are easy to like, useful in the kitchen, and fun to grow. If you want to grow leeks from seed in your garden, you can do it with simple steps and a little patience.

Leeks belong in the same family as onions, shallots, garlic, chives, and bunching onions. That means if you already grow onions, you are in familiar ground. Still, leeks have their own look, taste, and growing style, so it helps to know what makes them special.

Let’s start with the big question. What is the difference between leeks, bunching onions, onions, and shallots? They are related, but they are not the same. Each one brings something different to the garden and to the table.

Leeks grow into long white stems with flat green leaves. You usually eat the white shaft and the tender light green part. Instead of forming a big round bulb like an onion, a leek stays more like a thick stem.

Bulb onions grow into round bulbs under the soil surface. They can be sweet, sharp, yellow, red, or white. They are a kitchen staple because they store well and work in almost every savory dish.

Shallots grow in small clusters, a bit like garlic. Their flavor is usually milder and a little sweeter than a regular onion. They are great when you want onion flavor that feels more delicate.

Bunching onions, often called green onions or scallions, do not make large bulbs. You harvest them young for their slender white base and green tops. They grow fast and are perfect for salads, eggs, and quick garnish.

So why should someone grow all of them? The simple answer is flavor, timing, and variety. Onions store for months, bunching onions grow fast, shallots offer rich flavor, and leeks give you a mild, savory taste that feels hearty and refined.

If you ask, can I use leeks interchangeably with onions, bunching onions, and shallots, the answer is sometimes, but not always. Leeks are milder and less sharp than bulb onions. They can replace onions in soups and sautés, but the final taste will be softer and sweeter.

If you grow onions, shallots, bunching onions, and leeks together, your cooking gets easier. You can pick the right allium for the job. That means sweet depth from onions, quick freshness from bunching onions, gentle richness from shallots, and smooth savor from leeks.

Grow Leeks - Why Leeks?

I like to think of leeks as the calm, steady member of the onion family. They do not shout in a dish. They build flavor slowly. When I first grew them, I was surprised by how much they improved soups, potato dishes, and roasted meals without taking over.

Leeks take longer to grow than bunching onions, but they are worth the wait. They stand in the garden through cool weather and often look healthy when other crops are fading. That makes them a great choice for gardeners who want food over a long season.

To grow leeks from seed in your garden, start by choosing a variety that fits your season. Some leeks mature earlier, while others are better for fall and winter harvests. Read the seed packet so you know how many days the crop needs.

Grow Leeks - Planting And Transplanting

Grow leeks like this man is doing in his garden. Leeks add flavor to any dish.

In most American gardens, leek seeds are started indoors before the last spring frost. This gives the plants enough time to size up before summer heat or fall cold. In cooler areas, indoor starting is especially helpful because leeks are slow growers.

A good rule is to sow leek seeds indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before your last expected frost date. That head start matters. If you wait too long, the plants may stay thin and small for much of the season.

Use a clean seed tray, cell pack, or shallow container with drainage holes. Fill it with a light seed-starting mix. Water the mix so it is damp but not soggy before you plant.

Sow the seeds about 1/4 inch deep and cover them lightly. Space them a little apart if using a flat, or place a few in each cell if using trays. Then label the container, because leek seedlings can look a lot like other onion family plants.

Put the tray in a bright spot or under grow lights. Leek seedlings need strong light to stay sturdy and upright. Keep the soil evenly moist while the seeds sprout.

Germination may take around 1 to 2 weeks, sometimes longer if conditions are cool. Be patient. Leeks do not rush, and that is true from the start.

Once the seedlings are growing, you can trim the tops to about 2 or 3 inches tall. This sounds odd at first, but it helps keep them from flopping over. I remember being nervous the first time I cut them, but they bounced back just fine.

Keep trimming the tops as needed while the seedlings are indoors. Strong, stocky seedlings transplant better than long, tangled ones. Also make sure they get plenty of light and steady moisture.

Before moving seedlings to the garden, harden them off for about a week. That means you slowly get them used to outdoor sun, wind, and temperature swings. Start with a little time outside each day and build up.

Now let’s talk about where to plant leeks. Choose a garden bed with full sun if possible. Leeks can handle a little shade, but they grow best with plenty of direct light.

The soil should be loose, rich, and well drained. Leeks like fertile ground with lots of organic matter. Mixing compost into the bed before planting is one of the best things you can do.

Leeks grow best in soil that stays evenly moist but does not stay waterlogged. Heavy clay can slow them down if it stays too wet. Sandy soil may dry too fast, so adding compost helps both extremes.

When the seedlings are pencil-thin or close to it, they are usually ready to transplant. This stage often comes after the danger of very hard frost has passed. Light frost usually does not bother leeks much, but tiny seedlings need time to settle in.

Grow Leeks - Planting

There are two common ways to plant leeks in the garden. You can place them in holes or set them in shallow trenches. Both methods help produce a longer white stem, which is the part most people want.

For the hole method, make holes about 4 to 6 inches deep with a dibber, stick, or similar tool. Drop one seedling into each hole. Do not force soil back in around it. Just water, and nature will slowly fill the hole over time.

For the trench method, plant the seedlings in a shallow trench and gradually pull soil around the stems as they grow. This process is often called blanching. It keeps light off the lower stem so it stays pale, tender, and mild.

Space leek plants about 4 to 6 inches apart in rows around 12 to 18 inches apart. Closer spacing can still work if you want smaller leeks. Wider spacing gives each plant more room to thicken.

Water the transplants well after planting. For the first week or two, keep an eye on them so the roots do not dry out. A layer of mulch can help hold moisture and reduce weeds.

If you want to grow leeks from seed in your garden successfully, steady care matters more than fancy tricks. Leeks like regular water, open growing space, and a weed-free bed. They are not hard to grow, but they do best when you stay consistent.

Grow Leeks - Caring For Them

Aim to give leeks about 1 inch of water per week from rain or irrigation, adjusting for your soil and weather. In hot, dry spells, they may need more. Dry soil can slow growth and make stems smaller.

Feed leeks with nitrogen-rich fertilizer or compost during the growing season if your soil is not very rich. Because they grow for a long time, they benefit from extra nutrition. Side-dressing with compost partway through the season is a simple choice.

Keep weeds under control from the start. Young leeks do not compete well with aggressive weeds. Hand weeding and mulch are usually enough for home gardens.

As the plants grow, hill soil lightly around the stems or add mulch around them to help blanch the lower portion. Do this bit by bit. You do not want to bury the leaves where they join the stem.

Leeks are generally hardy and can handle cool weather very well. In many places, they taste even better after chilly nights. That is one reason gardeners love them for fall harvest.

Grow Leeks - Pests

Watch for common onion-family problems such as weeds, poor drainage, and occasional pests. Healthy soil, crop rotation, and good airflow can help prevent trouble. Avoid planting leeks in the same spot year after year if possible.

Grow Leeks - Harvesting

This family is harvesting leeks from their yard.

Leeks take time, often several months from seed to harvest. That can feel slow if you are used to quick crops like radishes or scallions. Still, their long season is part of their charm because they fill the garden when other things are slowing down.

You can begin harvesting leeks when they are big enough to use, even if they are still small. Baby leeks are tender and tasty. Or you can let them size up for thicker stems and a bigger harvest later.

To harvest, loosen the soil with a garden fork or hand tool and lift the plant gently. Do not just yank hard on the leaves, because they can tear. Shake off the dirt and trim roots if needed.

Grow Leeks - Hidden Dirt

Wash leeks thoroughly because dirt gets in the layers of leaves.

One thing you should know is that leeks often trap soil between their leaf layers. That is normal. It just means you need to clean them well before cooking.

To clean a leek, trim off the root end and the dark green tops if they are tough. Slice the white and light green parts lengthwise, then rinse between the layers under running water. Dirt likes to hide there.

Grow Leeks - Cooking

Smile as you chop leeks in the kitchen and make people wonder what you've been up to!

If you want to cook with leeks, start simple. Sauté sliced leeks in butter or oil for soups, eggs, pasta, rice, or roasted vegetables. Their flavor turns sweet and soft as they cook.

Leeks are famous in potato leek soup, but that is only the beginning. They are also excellent in quiche, stir-fries, savory tarts, braises, casseroles, and pan sauces. Once you start using them, you will probably look for more leek recipes every season.

Can you swap leeks for onions in a recipe? Often yes, especially in soups, stews, and cooked dishes. Use them when you want less bite and more mellow flavor. For raw uses, onions and scallions usually bring more sharpness than leeks.

Grow Leeks - Storage

Grow leeks so you can experience the flavor.

Freshly harvested leeks can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week or two, sometimes longer if conditions are good. Keep them unwashed until you are ready to use them. Too much moisture in storage can shorten their life.

You can place leeks in a loose plastic bag or wrap them lightly to keep them from drying out. Because they have a strong aroma, it helps to keep them away from foods that absorb odors. A crisper drawer works well.

For longer storage, some gardeners leave leeks in the ground into late fall or winter if the climate allows. A thick mulch layer can help protect them in cold weather. This can be a great way to extend the harvest right from the garden bed.

You can also freeze leeks after cleaning and chopping them. Many people blanch them first, then cool and freeze in portions. That makes it easy to add them later to soups, sauces, and skillet meals.

If you save space carefully, leeks fit nicely into mixed garden plans. They can follow early lettuce or spinach, or stand beside carrots and beets. Their upright shape makes them useful in smaller beds.

Leeks are also a good crop for gardeners who want to stretch the season. Start them early from seed, plant them out in spring, and harvest from late summer into fall or beyond. That long timeline makes them a steady kitchen crop.

Grow Leeks - Wrapping It Up

If you are building a practical home garden for flavor, alliums deserve a full section. Onions, shallots, bunching onions, and leeks each solve a different kitchen need. Growing all four gives you more choices without much wasted space.

The best part is that once you learn to grow leeks from seed in your garden, the process feels simple year after year. Start seeds early, transplant into rich soil, keep them watered, and blanch the stems as they grow. Those few habits lead to beautiful harvests.

I still think leeks are one of the most rewarding crops for a home cook. They look elegant, taste gentle, and bring real depth to homemade food. When a cool-season bed is full of sturdy green leek tops, the garden feels generous and useful.

So if you want more flavor in your meals, go ahead and grow leeks from seed in your garden this season. Plant them where they get sun, care for them with patience, harvest them when they are thick and tender, and enjoy the many ways you can cook, store, and share them.

Monday, July 13, 2026

Sunrise off the side porch where I let the dogs outside.

Good morning. I was awake thinking about taking care of our beautiful Harriet who is really Harry. I woke up at 5:15am thinking about it.

I got up and caught the sunrise while letting the dogs out.

Well, Matt showed up and I manned up and went out there. Matt finally caught Harriet and I took care of the problem...Harry screamed his head off. We checked Mamie and Lois Lane and they are still girls. Eight boys and two girls. How is that possible? What a way to start a Monday!

This afternoon, I saw the podiatrist. The toe is healing nicely on both sides finally. But, just in case, the doctor said she would call in another antibiotic for me. Four weeks ago, I called to get an antibiotic as my toe got infected while healing. It took a week before I could see the doctor since no information was given to the doctor each time I called in.

I told her I was pleased that she was doing that. Hopefully, I won't need to use them, but if I have a problem, I will be able to handle it.

Tonight, we are under a flood watch until Thursday evening. Keep in mind that we have not had one drop of rain. Hopefully, we get something. Devine got over two inches this past weekend while the tiny bit we got on Saturday did not move our rain gauge.

I stayed up very late and the rain never started.

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

The grass is green but I wish we could have had more rain for the trees in the orchard.

It finally happened! It started raining around 2am and it is now 9am. We have 3/4 of an inch! People in Devine say they have another 3.5 inches overnight. It is still raining. The dogs won't go out to go potty. They just stand on the side deck.

I made delightful breakfast sandwiches out of Bush's Chicken rolls with egg, sausage, cheese, butter, and Chick Fil A sauce. That stuff is super good!

We are an online seed business. In order to buy our seeds, you have to have internet or you have to come in person. This morning, I got a Facebook message from some woman who said she received her seed order in the mail. She is angry because the tiny envelopes don't have instructions.

The instructions are in the listing. The envelopes don't have enough room. Per the Department of Agriculture, our envelopes must have our name and address and when they were packed. After our logo and the name and photo of the seed, there just isn't room.

So this lady says she does not have internet so she can't plant her seeds, yet she made an internet order and got on Facebook to complain. Just Google it or go to one of our websites and quit your whining. We have to do what the state of Texas says or we can't sell seeds. Other major seed companies have nothing on their envelopes either. Good golly!

It did not rain anymore here today.

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

It got dark many times this week but we got under 1 and 3/4 inches of rain from this past Saturday through the end of this week.

We got a bit of rain overnight. We are just below one inch now. Not sure how everyone else is getting a ton of it but we can't get one inch over four days...Yes, this less than one inch includes the few drops we had on Saturday afternoon at 2pm.

I just put in a grocery order and unloaded the dishwasher. I need to load it up and get ready for work. Supposedly, we will get more rain today but I have my doubts...

Well, sure: enough, we did not get one drop of rain. Lots of other areas around here did but we still don't have an inch of rain. How disappointing! One of our helpers called in because it might rain. All three come in from the same town. Two made it just fine because there was no rain today...

It is now 9:16pm and I just finished writing a newsletter for David's Garden Seeds that will be delivered to inboxes at 3am our time on Thursday.

That soccer tournament that lasted for four or five weeks is finally over because Gordon Ramsay came on tonight! I truly hate soccer and I cannot understand why our country has made such a huge fuss over the game, canceling TV shows and carrying on about it. Soccer is what broke my arm when I was 12 years old in PE class. My gym teacher yelled for me to go up and meet the ball. My wrist met it and cracked. Game over!

Thursday, July 16, 2026

As you can see, the orange floater is just under the one inch mark. Today is the last day of our "flood"! Ha! Maybe today we will hit one inch!

Good morning. There was a bit more rain overnight. We are now just a hair under one inch in six days. Others are dumping their rain gauges every day and we still haven't hit an inch!

It didn't rain all day long until after 4pm. Then the heavens opened and it poured hard, sideways, every which way but loose and got everything on the covered decks wet. Then it stopped. I went in and started cooking for taco night. I made an amazing taco dinner complete with homemade guacamole and Spanish rice.

Matt finally went out to take care of the animals and the heavens opened again. When it stopped, he left the chicken house where he had taken cover. That put us up to just under 1.5 inches finally. We watched a silly shark movie this evening, early shark week viewing!

Friday, July 17, 2026

My banana tree has split 3 ways and is finally beginning to grow back after someone not special cut it down 2 years ago.

Good morning. Well, the "flood" is now over and we barely got any moisture at all. Matt brought us breakfast this morning so I need to get dressed and get to work. There was a big old box on my kitchen table that the FedEx man brought us late yesterday but I did not know why it was brought over here.

David keeps losing his canes so I ordered him three with his Medicare money. He went to pick up a part for his riding mower yesterday and found out that they had one of his canes that he left there last week. I told him to call and ask but he wouldn't.

Anyway, the box was open so I looked in it this morning and pulled out three quad canes. Then I placed them all over next to the den in the kitchen and called the girls. They are afraid of the canes so they came, took a look, and ran back into David's office. It was hilarious, a silent barrier, just like the vacuum. Hahaha!

We never got another drop of rain. Tonight, around 7:30pm, David went out and cut a lot of grass. He did not come in until 9:15pm. We watched some ridiculous 5 headed shark movie that was hilarious.

Saturday, July 18, 2026

Samantha's paw is healing nicely. She is having fun with the many lizards all over the property.

Good morning. It will be another hot, dry day.

The cat is enjoying killing lizards around the property. It seems to be her new hobby.

I did some cleaning and then went out to work, closing orders and packing seeds. We had no customers. This time of year, we have very few. I believe we had four customers all week long.

I came back in the house and did some laundry as well as sweeping, mopping, and dusting. My back is now killing me.

We watched another silly shark movie tonight and had turkey burgers with cheese and fixings.

Sunday, July 19, 2026

Good morning. I got outside fairly early and it wasn't too hot or humid at the time. I found some of my Brad's Atomic cherry tomatoes and picked them. Most were cracked. More are growing.

The animals are doing well. The chickens look much better now that all of the fleas are finally gone. Those things are wicked.

The baby goats are getting big. The oldest ones are now 11 weeks old. We already need more goat food. The babies are devouring it.

I have been looking high and low for weeks for my Duck Commander Bible. I finally found it in a Bible cover right on my desk. I thought that a different Bible was in that cover. Glad to have found it.

It is now time to get ready for church.

We went to church and then to HEB. As usual, they were packed. We got home, unloaded the groceries, and put them away. Then we heated up turkey burgers from last night for lunch.

It is 97° so I changed out of my hot, sweaty clothes and I am ready to collapse. I fell asleep on the way home. I think I will be lying down for a little while. I did not sleep well. Every time I went to sleep last night, I dreamed about things and people who are upsetting me. I had one bout of neuropathy and my nose was clogged around 3:30am so I had to get up and go to the couch for about 90 minutes.

Last night, I did not go out to take care of the animals until about 8pm and when I was finished, even though it was cooler, I was sweaty. I guess I will have to wait until then to go out because it is hotter today than it was yesterday.

Return from Grow Leeks to Year 7 Of Farm Life

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