There are many varieties of Leeks, but two basic types, either ready to harvest in Autumn or Winter Cropping. The Autumn leeks are bright green and grow tall and slender. The Winter type has a blue-green colour, they're shorter and fatter. Why not try growing both for a long season of harvesting sweet leeks! 

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Let the Winter Leeks sit in the ground through the cold months, they are frost-hardy. You'll look to harvest these in spring before they go to seed. It's easy to spot a Leek when it passes its best, as a long hard shoot or 'scape' grows through the centre and up, producing a big disco ball head full of seeds. You can save them for sowing next season!

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Kate is harvesting her Autumn Leeks at Four Acre. They were multi-sown so they could be picked at different times, leaving the smaller ones in the earth to keep on growing.  

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Kate recommends planting in clumps of twos & threes to produce good-sized leeks.

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You'll harvest them with a sharp knife, slicing them at the soil level.

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The roots of leeks are large and penetrate far beneath the soil. It's really important to leave as much of the root system in the earth. This is how we harvest while respecting the microbial network under our No Dig Allotment.

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