2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Leek (Latin Allium porrum) - biennial plant of the Onion family. Leeks are native to the Mediterranean. The leek was derived from the wild plant Allium ampeloprasum found in the Mediterranean, Iran and England. Currently, the crop is grown in large quantities in North Africa, America, France and other European countries.
Characteristics of culture
Leeks are one of the most ancient and valuable cultures. In the first year, a powerful false bulb is formed in leeks, consisting of thickened leaf bases attached to the bottom and smoothly turning into a false stem. The stem is green, under the leaves - white or light green, in cross section - white with a yellowish core. The leaves are flat, linear-lanceolate, green with a waxy bloom, fan-shaped, have a central vein along their entire length.
In the second year of life, the plant forms a flower arrow, the height of which is about 1-2 m. The inflorescence is a spherical umbrella, initially covered with a cover, reaches 6-8 cm in diameter. The flowers are small, white, pinkish or lilac in color. Seeds are triangular, black, wrinkled, viable for 2-4 years.
Growing conditions
Leeks are a light-loving culture, grows well and develops in areas illuminated throughout the day. Soils are preferable light, moderately moist, fertile, loamy with a neutral pH. The optimum growing temperature is 20-25C. The best crop precursors are tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, cabbage and legumes.
Growing seedlings and planting in open ground
Leeks are grown in a seedling and non-seedling way. Before sowing, the seeds are pickled in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. To speed up the sprouting process, the seeds are germinated, they are laid out on damp gauze, left for 2-3 days in a warm place, and then dried. Sowing is carried out at the end of February in seedling boxes filled with moist soil. The seeding depth is 1-1.5 cm.
After sowing, the substrate is watered with a spray bottle, covered with glass or foil and placed in a room with an air temperature of 22-25 C. With the emergence of seedlings, the temperature is lowered to 15-17 C. After a week, the temperature is brought to 17-20C. Temperature control is extremely important for leeks. A month later, the seedlings dive in separate containers, and best of all in peat-humus pots. Seedlings are regularly watered and fed with liquid fertilizers.
Planting in open ground is carried out when the seedlings reach the age of 6-8 weeks. Before planting, the seedlings are hardened. The area for growing leeks is prepared in the fall. The soil is carefully dug up, compost, superphosphate and potassium chloride are added. In the spring, the ridges are loosened with a rake. Plant roots are dipped in a clay mash, and only after that they are planted in the ground. The depth of the holes should be about 10-13 cm. The distance between the plants should be 15-20 cm, and between the rows - 25-30 cm.
Care
Leeks are a rather demanding culture, it needs systematic watering, top dressing, weeding and hilling. To provide plants with more comfortable conditions and facilitate work, the soil on the ridges is mulched.
When the stalks of leeks reach a diameter of 0.5 cm, soil is poured into the holes, and then regular hilling is carried out. Such procedures produce longer and bleached stems.
The culture is very demanding for watering and feeding, especially in the first half of the growing season. As a fertilizer, it is best to use mullein or bird droppings in the form of solutions in a ratio of 1: 8 and 1:20, respectively.
Harvesting
Leeks are harvested in August - October, it depends solely on the variety. The plants are carefully dug in with a shovel, shaken off the ground and placed in wooden boxes. Leeks are folded upright, or tied in small bunches. Store the leeks in the sand at an air temperature of 0-1C.
