Leek

Leeks are part of the allium family, along with onions, chives, and garlic and they also have a mild onion flavor. They look like an overgrown scallion. Leeks can be enjoyed raw or in soups, stews, or pasta dishes.  Plant leeks in the cooler months and space at least 6 inches apart.  Leeks are easy to grow as long as they have regularly moist soil and at least 6 hours of sunlight.  The stems are the edible part, so no need to wait for bulbs or flowers.  If you want the large white stems that you see in the store, you'll want to plant the leeks deeper, to the base of the first leaf.  As the plants grow, keep mounding the soil around the base, once the plant reaches an inch in diameter.  This process keeps the base underground, where it will not need chlorophyll, and results in the thick white stems leeks are most recognized as.  

Height: 36 inches
Spread: 4-8 inches

Uses: Culinary

"Leek Stalks" by LollyKnit is licensed with CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/