Grow your own Leeks
What would Potato and Leek soup taste like without the mighty Leek? Exactly. They are very tasty, easy to grow, low in calories, high in iron and vitaminsC and B6.
Leeks enjoy sunny, dry and sheltered spot. They like light, well-drained soil. If you feel your soil is too heavy add some horticultural sand. Make sure it's not freshly manured as this can leave the Leeks course and fibrous. It's best to use a site that was well manured the previous year.
Sowing
Like any vegetable gardening everyone will have their own particluar way. I find the most reliable method is direct sowing into the soil in March and April. You can sow them inside or in a greenhouse but will then need to transplant. Sow thinly in rows - about 30cm apart. After a month when the seedings have three leafs each start to thin them out to about 15cm.
If you have a disaster with your Leeks or you are feeling really lazy you can actually get some established seedlings from your local Garden Centre. They will be about pencil thickness and will still be very cost effective when you consider the price in the supermarket. To transplant these you will need to create a 20cm hole with your finger or a dibber. Make sure the hole is a little bit wider than the seedling. Drop your Leek in a fill the hole with water.
Make sure you keep them watered during dry spells.
You can increase the amount of the white tender stalk by covering with mulch or parchment.
Harvesting
Like any vegetable this will depend on the variety of Leek you have grown. Some shorter grown varieties will be ready come the summer. The best in my opinion are the slow growers that will stay in the ground over winter. As it's not the most productive time of the year they can be a god send.
