The leek variety determines the time of harvest. Harvesting leeks correctly is not difficult. If you take the following factors into account, with a bit of luck the plant will thrive twice per season.
How do I harvest leeks correctly and get long, white stalks?
To harvest leeks properly, cut summer leeks close to the ground and dig them up during the second harvest. For winter leeks, carefully dig the entire stalk out of the ground. To get long, creamy white spears, plant leeks in May, hilling the plants repeatedly or using a dark plastic tube to avoid light.
Harvest summer garlic twice
If leek varieties are sown behind glass in winter and planted in spring, they are ready to harvest after 5 to 6 months. Since the vegetation kicks into botanical speed from June to October, prudent hobby gardeners use this phase for a second harvest:
- Cut off spring leeks close to the ground in the first harvest pass
- hill up the plant a little and water it
- a second, narrower leek grows back
Only dig up the summer leek completely during the second harvest cycle. Ideally in time before the first frost.
Dig up winter garlic
Hardy leeks are available for harvest throughout the cold season. Get it fresh from the bed if you want to enjoy the 'vitamin prince of winter'. Since there is no prospect of regrowing leeks at this time of year, the harvest is now as follows:
- choose a frost-free day for the winter harvest
- loosen the root area in the morning with the digging fork
- pull the entire pole out of the ground in the afternoon
This harvesting technique offers the advantage that the nitrate content in the leek drops significantly. In addition, you are more likely to detect any worm infestation in the afternoon.
How to harvest long, creamy white leeks
When leek vegetables come to the table, everyone grabs the creamy white parts of the plant. No wonder, because they taste wonderfully tender and aromatic. Hobby gardeners therefore strive to plant leeks with the longest, white stems possible. This is how the feat is achieved:
- Plant leeks preferably in the sunny month of May
- keep piling up the young plants
- alternatively, place a dark plastic tube over the leek
Piling is one of the traditional working methods in leek cultivation. They build a small wall of soil and mulch around each individual pole. The better a sprout is protected from light, the paler and more delicate it will grow.
Tips & Tricks
The leek roots, which are up to 150 cm deep, enrich the soil with many nutrients. Resourceful hobby gardeners do not leave the valuable soil unused and sow lamb's lettuce or lettuce as undersown. Post-cultivated carrots and new potatoes also benefit from the nutritious bedding soil that leeks always leave behind.