Growing and caring for leeks outdoors from planting to harvest

Leek characterized by a long growing season - 130-180 days, depending on the variety. Therefore, the culture is grown mainly by the seedling method. The seedless method is used in the southern regions, which is facilitated by more favorable climatic conditions.

We have prepared for you detailed instructions for growing and caring for leeks in the open field.

Choosing a variety of leeks

Leek varieties are divided into early, mid-season and late.

The leg of early or spring varieties with a ripening period of 130-150 days weighs 200-350 g, has a diameter of about 3 cm. The leaves are not wide, green in color, located on a false stem at an acute angle, coarse by mid-summer.

The most popular early maturing varieties:

1. Columbus - Dutch variety with a pleasant sweetish taste. The plant reaches 70-80 cm in height, the leg is 20 cm, the diameter is 6 cm, and the weight is 400 g. It does not need hilling to bleach the leg.
2. Vesta - a productive variety, with a stem height of 150 cm, legs - 30 cm, weight - 350 g. Taste qualities are high.
3. Elephant's trunk - with a pleasant sweet taste and excellent keeping quality. Leg height 30 cm, subject to frequent hilling.
4. Goliath - has wide green or gray-green leaves, the bleached part is about 30 cm, 6 cm in diameter, weighing 200 g.
5. Kilima - a highly productive early variety. White part - 10-25 cm, diameter - 3-4 cm, weight - 150 g.

Mid-season leek varieties are less productive than early ones, but they have better qualities. The ripening period is 150-180 days.

Distinctive features - wide leaves of blue-green color, leg weight - 200 g, height - 20-25 cm.

The best mid-season varieties:

1. Jolant - the variety is resistant to fungal diseases, is characterized by a high yield. The height of the leg is about 30 cm, the bulb is weak, leaves with an anthocyanin tint.
2. Casimir - tall and compact plant with high productivity, resistant to fungi. The leaves extend vertically from the stem, the bulb is weakly expressed, the leg height is 25 cm, the diameter is 3.5 cm.
3. Camus - plant of medium height. Leaves are concave, green in color with a waxy bloom. Leg height - 20 cm, diameter - 2.5 cm.
4. Tango - frost-resistant fruitful variety with upright leaves. Leg height - 12 cm, diameter - 5 cm, weight - 200 g.

Late varieties ripen for more than 180 days, are characterized by high productivity, and are stored for a long time. Leaves are blue-green in color, with a waxy bloom, densely located on the false stem, departing from it at an angle of 90 °. The leg is short and thick.

Late varieties of leeks:

1. Karantansky - height of the white part is 25 cm, weight 200-300 g. Sprawling leaves, dark green.
2. Elephant - Czech variety, frost and drought resistant. Has a tangy taste. Leg height - 25 cm, weight - 200 g.
3. Autumn giant - Dutch variety, has a large white part about 40 cm in height, 7-8 cm in diameter. It is stored for a long time in the cellar.
4. Asgeos - a frost-resistant variety with broad leaves of a bluish-green color. The height of the leg is 20 cm, weight is 350 g. The taste is semi-sharp.

Features of growing leeks in the open field

The culture is characterized by a long growing season - 150-200 days. Therefore, it is preferable to grow leeks through seedlings, especially this rule applies to the central and northern regions of Russia. Sowing is done in mid to late February. The length of daylight hours for leeks is at least 10 hours, therefore, with early sowing, the seedlings are supplemented with phytolamps.

In the south of the country leek seeds embedded directly into the ground, starting from the second decade of May.

An important condition for obtaining a rich harvest is compliance with the temperature regime. The high temperature even at the seedling stage leads to the formation of a flower arrow in the first year of the growing season, and not in the second.

Leek seedlings are best planted after potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, beans, cabbage.

Leeks are resistant to cold and can withstand frosts down to -5… -7 ° C. In regions with mild winters, the plant can be covered with snow in the open field. At the same time, a rainy and cool summer leads to the formation of a thin and short stem, a loss of taste.

Sowing dates

The timing of planting leeks differ depending on the climatic characteristics of a particular region and variety. Auspicious dates of the lunar calendar are also taken into account.

Early-ripening varieties are sown in April, mid-ripening ones - in late February-early March, late-ripening ones - in late January-early February.

In the northern regions of Russia, seedlings are sown in April-May. In the central regions with a more favorable climate, sowing work is carried out in the second decade of February. In the south, leeks are sown directly into the ground in late May and early June.

Sowing dates according to the lunar calendar for 2020:

• January - 1, 5-9, 11, 14-16, 21, 22, 25, 29;
• February - 2-4, 10, 13-15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 28, 29;
• March - 1, 3-5, 10, 11, 14-16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 29-31;
• April - 2-4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27-29;
• May - 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 12-14, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27-29;
• June - 1, 2, 4, 8, 11-13, 18, 19, 22, 24, 26-29.

Growing seedlings

Sowing a crop for seedlings is the best way to get healthy plants and a big harvest. Seed material is pre-disinfected and soaked to increase germination. Sow in boxes or separate containers. Care is standard: watering, picking, feeding, hardening in the fresh air.

Seed preparation

Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in warm water for 24 hours, then dried in the open air or filled with water + 40 ° C and left in a closed container for 3-5 hours. Then the planting material is washed with running water and dried.

A dark solution of potassium permanganate or "Fitosporin" is used to disinfect seeds.

Soil preparation

Loose and nutritious soil is ideal for growing leek seedlings. Heavy, clayey soil is not used. In such an environment, it is difficult for germs to break through to the surface.

The seeds are embedded in a ready-made substrate for growing seedlings of cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, enriched with nutrients. If desired, the soil can be prepared independently.

To do this, in a bucket of 10 liters, connect at choice:

• peat, land from the garden, humus (1: 1: 2);
• ash, ground chicken or quail eggshells, peat, moss, sawdust, turf in equal proportions.

The soil mixture is preliminarily watered with a solution of potassium permanganate or "Fitosporin".

For deoxidation, a glass of wood ash is mixed into the soil. Alkaline soil is normalized with dolomite flour.

To increase fertility, potassium salt, compost, urea, superphosphate are used.

Any container for growing seedlings can be taken: tetrapacks, plastic trays, boxes, large glasses. The containers are poured with hot potassium permanganate solution or boiling water.

An excellent alternative to plastic boxes is peat tablets. They simplify the process of sowing seeds - there is no need to prepare the substrate yourself. The tablets maintain a constant level of moisture, preventing the soil from drying out.

Sowing

The seed sowing technology differs depending on the container used:

• 3-4 seeds are placed in separate containers to a depth of 1 cm;
• in common trays, one seed is sown to a depth of 1-1.5 cm with an interval of 4-5 cm;
• when sown in a snail, the seeds are spread every 5 cm, retreating from the edge of 2-3 cm.

The containers are filled with a moist substrate and the planting material is distributed. A layer of 0.5 cm of sand or peat is poured on top, poured with water and stretched with plastic wrap. Seedlings are left in a dark place at a temperature of + 21 ... + 25 ° C until sprouts appear.

Sowing in a snail

Sowing seeds in a snail is a proven way to produce strong and healthy leek seedlings.

To twist the snail, use:

• lining for laminate or thick plastic wrap 10 cm wide;
• soil mixture;
• pharmacy gum;
• pallet that is larger than the roll.

Sowing technology:

• wet soil is poured onto the strip, stepping back from the edge of 2 cm from the edge of the tape;
• the seeds are slightly immersed in the soil, observing an interval of 5 cm;
• the tape is rolled up and secured with elastic bands;
• the snail is placed in a pallet with the seeds up;
• the soil is moistened with a spray bottle and covered with a plastic bag;
• after emergence, the package is removed and the snails are transferred to a sunny windowsill.

Features of seedling care

Compliance with the irrigation regime, air temperature and daylight hours, fertilizing, picking seedlings from a common container into separate glasses, hardening in the fresh air allow you to grow strong seedlings and ultimately get a rich harvest.

Watering

Leeks are watered often and abundantly - 2-3 times a week. Young stems are too thin and easily damaged. Therefore, watering is carried out gently through a sieve or syringe under the root.

Spraying from a sprayer moistens the stems and removes dust from them.

Top dressing

Leek seedlings are fertilized two times:

• 14 days after germination;
• 7 days before transplanting to the garden.

As a top dressing, use "Kemiru-universal" or dissolve in 5 liters of water 5 g of potassium chloride, 20 g of superphosphate, 10 g of urea.

Chicken or quail droppings are considered the best feed for leeks. For 10 liters of water, take 500 g of droppings, mix thoroughly and carefully water the seedlings at the root.

Daylight hours and temperature conditions

After 2-3 weeks, after the sprouts appear and get stronger, the container is taken out to the balcony with glazing for a week. The optimum air temperature at night is + 10 ... + 12 ° С, during the day - + 15 ... + 17 ° С. Then the air temperature is increased to + 13 ... + 15 ° С at night, + 18 ... + 20 ° С. In this mode, the leek is kept until transferred to the garden.

The norm of daylight hours is 12 hours. When sowing in the last days of January and early February, the seedlings are supplemented with a phytolamp or LED lamp.

Picking and trimming

If the seeds were sown in a common container, the seedlings are dived into separate glasses. Strong seedlings are gently poured in with a teaspoon and planted in prepared containers with moist soil.

To form the correct bulb, soil is poured into the container as the seedlings grow.

The stems are pruned every two weeks. The height of the seedlings is maintained at 10 cm. This creates favorable conditions for the proper development of the root system and thickening of the stems.

Reference. After a month, the seedlings in a common container are thinned out, leaving a gap of 3-4 cm.

Seedling hardening

A week before planting in open ground, the seedlings are taken outside for hardening. Tara is placed in partial shade. The time spent for seedlings in the open air is gradually increased, starting from 30 minutes and ending with 16 hours.

Landing in open ground

Leek seedlings are transferred to open ground after the appearance of the third leaf, about 55-56 days after full germination. Before planting, the roots and leaves are pinched by a third. This allows the white part to grow in the correct shape and speed up rooting.

The preparation of the site is carried out in the fall or spring: the soil is plowed deeply, fertilized with humus, and the beds are marked.

Leeks grow best in soil with neutral acidity. To normalize the pH, add slaked lime or dolomite flour (400-500 g per 1 sq. M).

Reference. It is undesirable to plant leeks in the same place more than once every three years.

When planting, the roots of the plant are dipped in a mixture of clay and mullein (1: 1) for better survival.

Seedlings are planted in furrows 10-13 cm deep at a distance of 15-20 cm. The width between the rows is 35-45 cm. A nutrient solution is poured into the recesses - 10 liters of humus, 0.5 liters of wood ash.

Further care

Leek care rules:

1. The beds are watered with both warm and cold settled water (10 liters per 1 sq. M) every 4-5 days, increasing the number of irrigations in drought. Soil moisture is maintained constantly, avoiding drying out and stagnant water. At the beginning of plant growth, the soil is shed with water to a depth of 7-10 cm.
2. After rooting, the seedlings are hilled every two weeks to whiten the stems and improve the taste.
3. The soil is loosened after each watering. Weeds are harvested as they grow.
4. The beds are mulched with sawdust, hay or straw to reduce the amount of loosening and weeding.
5. Leek is fertilized with a solution of chicken manure with phosphorus and potassium: one part of manure, 20 parts of water, 35 parts of superphosphate.

Diseases and pests

The danger for leek is a viral mosaic. The disease does not manifest itself when growing seedlings and is not treated. The carrier of the virus is the melon aphid.

The first symptoms appear after the transfer of seedlings to a permanent place: yellowish spots of a longitudinal shape appear on the stems, the development of the plant stops.

Leeks often attack fungi that cause rust (bright yellow pads on greenery) and downy mildew (dry feather tips, white or white-gray greens). For treatment, a solution of copper oxychloride (40 g per 10 l) and "Fitosporin" (5 g per 10 l) are used.

Prevention of viral diseases:

• weeding of weeds;
• insect control;
• crop rotation;
• planting varieties that are resistant to viruses;
• disinfection of seed material before sowing;
• removal of infected plants from the site.

Planting leeks is most often attacked by an onion fly. The pest has an incredible appetite and is able to leave the gardener without a crop.

Pest control methods:

• dusting with wood ash (300 g per 1 sq. m), a mixture of wood ash and tobacco dust (1: 1), ground red pepper (2 tsp per 1 sq. m);
• spraying plants with tobacco infusion (200 g of makhorka per 10 liters of hot water, insist for 12 hours, mix 50 g of shavings of laundry soap).

Harvesting and storage

Harvesting is carried out before the first frost. The plant tolerates frosts down to -7 ° C. Leek is dug with a shovel and left in the beds to dry.

The stalks peeled from the ground are cut in the area of ​​the onion roots and taken to storage in the cellar. Leaves are not cut off, otherwise the plant will quickly wither.

The optimum storage temperature for leeks in the cellar is –1 ... + 1 ° C, humidity - 80-85%. Wet river sand 5 cm thick is poured into the boxes. The stems are placed vertically on top and sand is poured between them. Shelf life is 6 months. Such boxes can also be placed on a glazed balcony.

To store leeks in the refrigerator, the leaves and roots are pruned, laid out in tight bags with holes of 6-8 pcs. Storage temperature -5 ° C for 4-5 months.

Leek is stored in a freezer in a crushed form: a layer of up to 5 cm is laid in dense bags.

It is interesting:

How to cook and eat leek soup for weight loss.

The benefits and harms of leeks for health: what is good and how to use it correctly.

Conclusion

Planting leeks on seedlings allows you to harvest before the onset of stable frosts. When choosing a sowing date, gardeners are guided by the lunar calendar and the climate of the growing region. Sowing work is performed from the end of January (Siberia) and ends in May in the south of the country. In the central regions, including the Moscow region, seeds are sown in March-April.

The culture loves abundant watering, needs hilling stems, loosening the soil, weeding weeds, fertilizing with minerals and organic matter, protection from viruses, fungi and insects. Have a healthy and rich harvest!