Use a liquid plant food when you water to encourage fast growth that will result in tender stems. Cultivate just deeply enough to cut the weeds off below the surface of the soil. At this point there is not much you can do except pull the rotted plants and thin the planting to increase air circulation. Hill the plants to produce a longer white shaft, or plant in a furrow and fill it in. At that time, I pick one or two stalks and put them upside down in Close spacing of two to four inches between plants works well if the plants are set out so the leaves will grow into the between-row space, rather than towards the plants on either side. You will also run into what is called a “summer leek” which is intended to plant in spring and harvest before cold weather. Leafy stems are pretty, and growing leeks doesn’t require much room in the garden. Sempervivums, hardy succulents of the family crassulacae are usually referred to as house leeks, or sometimes as live forever, or occasionally hen and chickens. Leeks grow best in temperature between 55° and 75°F (13-24°C). Most leeks require a long growing season of about 120 to 150 days, and a minimum of eight hours of bright sunlight daily. Leeks require 120 to 170 days to reach harvest depending on the variety. Use good cultural control practices to reduce disease problems to a good level and allow for a successful harvest. If you do not have a cold frame, set them outside for longer periods each day while returning them to the shelter of your home or garage at night. Remove affected foliage; later maturing foliage will be healthy. The leaves are thick, flat and folded. No need to back-fill the planting holes with soil. Stems will keep up to 8 weeks. As the plants grow fill the trench. Mulch the … Take care not to damage them by hoeing close to the plant. ‘Apollo’ AGM: A mid-season cultivar, ready to harvest in about December with blue-green leaves and good rust resistance. Plant two to six inches apart, with 12 to 36 inches between rows. Mulching with herbicide-free grass clippings, weed-free straw or other organic material to a depth of three to four inches can help prevent weed growth, decreasing the need for frequent cultivation. With plants like these, I always plan cautiously and expect things to take slightly longer than expected. There are two types of leeks: non-hardy or early leeks that reach full size in 50 to 75 days, and the hardy types that take 100 days or more The hardy ones are good for storage and in many places they can even be left right in the ground over the winter, especially if you mulch them with leaves or straw. ‘Toledo’ AGM: This leek produces long stems with dark blue leaves and is a late season cultivar, ready … University of Minnesota Extension discovers science-based solutions, delivers practical education, and engages Minnesotans to build a better future. For assistance in diagnosing unknown problems, visit the University of Minnesota Extension diagnostic site “. Enjoy dabbling in the diversity of deliciousness you’ll find in our Foodie Fresh collection. Harden off the plants for five to seven days before transplanting by putting them in a cold frame. Very large leeks have an inferior flavour so don't let them get too big. Personally, I just plant deeply in the beginning and don’t bother doing anything else with my leeks. Plant leeks during the cool weather of early spring and fall. They grow well in raised beds, containers, and in-ground gardens. This will yield the desired long, white stems. If they resist, use a spading fork to loosen soil and then gently pull leeks by grabbing them at their base. Leeks are fairly frost tolerant, so you can delay harvest until after the first few frosts.