How to grow leeks?

You can grow leeks in two ways:

1. Direct seeding in the soil.
2. Seedbed method.

Choosing a place for a garden with leek is very important. This plant is photophilous, so you will get the best harvest from well-lit beds. The acidity of the soil should not exceed the value of 7.6 pH, otherwise it is necessary to make liming. Leek is more effective to grow solely on fertile soils, a place for the garden should be prepared as follows:

• Dredge the soil to the depth of planting in autumn and spring;
• To introduce organic fertilizers (humus, compost);
• Before planting, the ground must be watered abundantly.

Option, how to grow leeks, should bechoose depending on the band in which you live. When sowing seedlings, we must take into account that it is prepared for 60-70 days before transplanting into the soil, however, different types of leeks have a different period of maturation, so it is important to take into account the recommendations indicated on the packet with seeds.

Cultivation of leeks: sprouts

Seedling method of growing leeks suitablefor the northern regions and the middle band. In order for seeds to ascend faster, they need to be prepared. To do this, you need to soak seeds in warm water (40-50 °) per day, and then put them in a moistened tissue, and hold them in a warm place for 2-3 days, then let it dry (to flowability).

Planting seedlings better in separate cups(3-4 seeds per each), in this case the seedlings are more robust. If the box is used as a seedling form, then sowing should be done at a distance of 5 cm between the rows. The soil should be easy humic. The depth of sowing is 1-1.5 cm.

The soil before sowing should be carefullymoisturize. Before emergence, it is recommended to cover the container with a film and place in a warm (20-25 °) and well-lit place. When the first shoots appear, the film is removed.

To obtain a healthy and high-quality seedling, it is necessary to observe the temperature and light conditions:

• In the daytime it is necessary to ensure the sprouts with bright light, the temperature should be 17-20 °;
• At night, it is permissible to lower the temperature to 12-14 °;
• Watering is moderate, the soil should be well moistened.

A month after sowing the seedlings are thin,weeding out weak shoots, the distance between the plants should be 2-3 cm. For the whole period of growing the seedlings, it is necessary to carry out feeding 2-3 times. As a fertilizer, you can use special mixtures or tea compost.

To better form the root system and the seedlings were not stretched, in the process of growing the seedlings are recommended to prune, maintaining the length of the leaves at a level of 8-10 cm.

A week before planting, it is recommended to begin seasoning the seedlings - temporarily exposing it to the natural environment. Planting seedlings in the ground is carried out in the first half of May.

Transplanting

By the time the seedlings are planted in the soil, the thickness of the stem of the seedlings must be at least 5-6 mm., They should have 3-4 real leaves 15-18 cm long.

Before planting seedlings in the ground,to prepare the beds, the distance between them should be 20-35 cm. The seedlings are planted in holes to a depth of 10-12 cm (they fill the hole halfway), the distance between which should be 15-20 cm. If the seedlings were grown in a box, then recommend cut 1/3 of the roots.

Landing in the ground

This method, how to grow leeks, is idealfor the southern regions. Sowing begins in the second half of May, while the prepared leeks are sown directly into the soil, the depth of sowing is 1-1.5 cm, the distance between beds and plants is the same as when planting seedlings in the ground.

Leeks: Care

Leek - a plant unpretentious, and if youcorrectly chosen a place for planting, then you just have to water it with warm water if necessary (the plant is hygrophilous), usually every 5 days. The first fertilizing after planting seedlings in the ground should be done after 15-20 days, further - every 2 weeks.

To obtain a bleached leg, it is recommended that the leek is hilled using the earth from the interrow rows.

Harvesting

Harvesting is made at will, but not earlier,than the plant will be 4-5 present sheets. The harvest is fully harvested to the first frost. In this case, leeks are digested and pulled out of the soil. In a plant cleared from the ground, the roots are cut to 1-2 cm. You can store onions both in fresh and dry, frozen, marinated, salted form.

Now you know how to grow leeks, and from another of our articles you will learn how to cook leeks.