Leeks

[NewbieGardener]

Hiya. I’m based in north east England and accidentally found I’d grown two leeks last year that had gone to seed. (I got a kit with loads of veg seeds the year before, realised I needed to research each one properly, gave up, then chucked them all in the soil - leeks, onions, carrots, the works). It was my first garden, and as you can probably tell, I was/still am, no gardener. Anyway, once they’d flowered, and I got attached to them - so pretty with their spherical form - I cut the heads off and brought them inside to dry. So, right now, Jan 2025, I have a pile of seeds (they aren’t black, they have golden rusky blankets around them) and I don’t know what to do. I have a patch of mud I’d like to grow 10/15 leeks, not masses, just enough to feel like Felicity Kendal from the Good Life. So, if anyone would be so kind to help, I’d love to know, what the next steps are? Do I just take 10/15 seeds and push singular ones into the mud? Or do I scatter the massive pile? Do I need to take the rusky skin stuff off the seed? And when is best to plant them? Thanks so much.

 

[Meadowlark]

...I was/still am, no gardener.

In my book you are a gardener. Welcome!

Early spring is a good planting time for Leeks. You might find it beneficial to "stagger" plant, i.e. plant a few in succession spread out over weeks. That way they wouldn't all mature at the same time. Select a location that gets preferably full sun.

If you are adventurous, try starting some inside now and transplanting later in spring when frost danger has passed. Put some potting soil in some small containers like paper cups, put a few seeds on top and water them in. A window sill works nice for this. Its exciting to watch the seeds become seedlings and a good way to increase your knowledge.

 

[Meadowlark]

A couple of pictures maybe help with your motivation ...

I grow the American leek here and find it is well worth the efforts to grow them. Here's mine at harvest:

 

[NewbieGardener]

Wow - they are brilliant. Well done.

 

[NewbieGardener]

In my book you are a gardener. Welcome!

Early spring is a good planting time for Leeks. You might find it beneficial to "stagger" plant, i.e. plant a few in succession spread out over weeks. That way they wouldn't all mature at the same time. Select a location that gets preferably full sun.

If you are adventurous, try starting some inside now and transplanting later in spring when frost danger has passed. Put some potting soil in some small containers like paper cups, put a few seeds on top and water them in. A window sill works nice for this. Its exciting to watch the seeds become seedlings and a good way to increase your knowledge.

I love this idea. Don’t know why I didn’t think of it. I’m going to do that this week, and then I’ll know what I’m planting. Thanks so much for replying.