Leek

Botanical name: Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum

Leeks are best grown as a cool season annual crop and are frost hardy; they love rich, loamy, well-composted soils. In cold temperate areas sow August – September; in warm temperate areas sow May – February; in subtropical areas sow March – August; in tropical areas leeks are unlikely to do well. Seed germinate best between 13 – 24°C soil temperature. Seed takes 7 – 10 days to germinate; it takes 8 – 10 weeks for seeds sown in trays to be ready to transplant.