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"Allium ampeloprasum: Leek cultivation dates back hundreds of years to southern Europe. Today the leek serves as an excellent substitute for onions and can be grown in protected gardens well into the fall.
CULTURE: Leeks are a cool-season biennial grown as an annual. They are well worth the effort because they are frost hardy and can supply the gardener with fresh ‘’onions’’ all winter and well into spring. They thrive in well composted, well worked, and well drained soil. Leeks can be started as transplants or direct sown in the garden if you have optimum soil conditions. Transplants will yield larger plants by autumn.
FOR TRANSPLANTS: Begin 8-10 weeks before your last frost. Sow 4 seeds per inch, 1/4-1/2 inch deep in rows 3 inches apart in your tray. Optimum soil temperature for germination: 55-75°F. Days to emergence: 8-16 days. Thin seedlings to 1/2 inch apart in the row. For stockier plants, keep the tops trimmed to 3 inches. Transplant into the garden after the threat of frost and the soil can be worked to a depth of 8-10 inches. Dig a trench 6-8 inches deep and wide. Each row should be 12-18 inches apart. Work in 1/4-1/2 cup of our complete fertilizer per 5 row feet. Place seedlings 4-5 inches apart in the bottom of the trench. Blanch to increase the length of white stem by gradually filling in the trench as the leeks grow.
DIRECT SEEDING: After your last frost, direct sow seeds 1/4-1/2 inch deep in rows 12-18 inches apart. Cover with vermiculite or sifted compost. Thin plants to 4-5 inches apart.
HARVEST: Dig anytime the leeks are 1/2 inch in diameter or larger. Can be used raw or cooked. Store at 33°F and 65% relative humidity.
INSECTS/PESTS: Seldom a problem.
DISEASE: Very resistant.
SEED SPECS: Minimum germination standard: 70%. Usual seed life: 1 year. Days to maturity are calculated from date of transplant. Approximately 175 seeds per 1/2 gram, about 350 seeds per gram; 14 grams per 1/2 ounce. A sampler will sow 25 feet.
Sampler: 1/2 gram
Packet: 4 grams "
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