How to grow leeks in garden beds? Growing and caring for leeks, planting seedlings in open ground.

Leek is one of the favorite crops on our table, as it is also used in fresh, and for adding to salads, other dishes (it is dried, marinated, frozen). In our article, we will tell you how to grow this plant from seeds, how to plant seedlings in the ground and care for the crop in such a way as to please yourself with a rich harvest of juicy green onions.

Leek - growing from seeds

The main feature of this plant is that it can be eaten when the first leaves are formed. True, many culinary experts prefer this onion for the pleasant taste of its “legs”: the bleached stem, since many different dishes can be prepared from it. In addition to a pleasant taste, leeks please big amount trace elements, vitamins.

This crop can be grown in two ways: sow seeds directly in the garden or grow seedlings first. To obtain a plant suitable for eating, you need to wait until the diameter of the stem is about 1.5-2 cm, which usually takes up to six months. Unfortunately, in our country it is possible to achieve such indicators only in the southern regions, therefore it is better to grow seedlings from seeds, and only then transplant them into open ground.

When growing this crop, the following conditions must be observed:

• Onions will grow on any soil, but to achieve high yield is possible only if seedlings are planted on fertile loamy soils. When preparing the site, be sure to dig the site “on a shovel”.
• This crop loves fertilizer in the form of manure and compost. But mineral fertilizers are best applied in early or mid-March.
• It is best to plant leeks in an area where cabbages, legumes, and cucumbers used to grow.
• Very important point- high-quality watering. Leek does not like drought - in this case, the growth of the plant will stop, but as soon as the soil is moistened, the onion will grow again. But it is important not to bring to a critical state. Irrigation rate is at least 20 liters of water for each square meter beds.

Growing this crop is very simple, because you just need to loosen the soil, remove weeds, and hill up. Additionally, you can create a mulching layer of dry straw and haulm, peat. Due to the presence of a mulching layer, it is possible to avoid rapid evaporation of moisture, prevent overdrying of the soil, and slow down the growth of weeds.

When growing leeks, you need to remember that the growing season this plant is the most difficult, because it seems to many that the onion just stopped and stopped growing. During this period, the plant really develops very slowly. But you should not worry - this is a feature of the leek.

Preparation and sowing of seeds according to all the rules

To grow onion seedlings, you must first prepare the seed. Work is usually carried out in mid-March. First, we prepare the seeds, for which you need to leave them in warm water(no more than + 50 degrees) for 15-20 minutes.

After that, be sure to rinse the seeds in water, then wrap them in a piece of damp cloth and leave it like that for at least three days. After the specified time, we unfold the seeds and dry them a little - it remains to plant them.

You need to follow this instruction:

Planting leek is best done according to the following scheme: each of the seedlings should be planted at a distance of at least 15 cm from each other, deepening into the ground to a depth of about 2 cm. Over the next three days, try not to water the beds, as this is necessary for the plant to take root in a new place.

After the specified time, we water the seedlings - for each square meter of the beds, you need to use 1.2 liters of water. At the same time, the beds are watered at least 1 time for every 5 days.

15-20 days after planting, feed the leek with mullein, urea, or superphosphate.

How to grow leeks the right way?

We have collected for you a lot of tips for growing leeks on the site. If you would like to collect good harvest be sure to follow these tips:

• As the seeds will be planted in early spring, it is necessary to additionally provide landings with lighting using fluorescent lamps.
• It is very important to remember to comply with the required temperature regime- it must be at least + 25 degrees. After the emergence of shoots, it must be slowly lowered.
• Thickened seedlings must be thinned out so that there is at least 3 cm of free space between each plant.
• It is better to plant immediately in peat pots, which will save you from picking.
• When seedlings grow, try to regularly cut the leaves so that they have the same length - about 10 cm. This work will improve the development of the root system and form a thick stem.
• Leek develops quite slowly, so do not be afraid that 4 weeks after planting the seeds, the stem diameter will be only 1 cm.
• This crop can be grown near garden strawberries, beets, celery.

Care and cultivation of culture

Caring for this plant is quite simple: regularly loosen the soil, remove weeds, prevent the soil from drying out and fertilize at the required time. But let's get a little more specific.

First of all, remember about the mulch, because thanks to it the plants will feel as comfortable as possible, their development will improve. As soon as the stems are about 1.5 cm in diameter, pour some soil into the hole, and do not forget to hill up every two weeks. Thanks to such work, the stem will become longer, more powerful and will not darken. In the season it is better to perform at least 4 hilling.

Also remember that onions love water, so plantings need to be regularly watered and fertilized. Only in this case can we say that the most delicious part of the onion - its "leg" will be juicy and rich. By the way, at proper care the plant can even overwinter at a temperature of about -5 degrees. Truth, late-ripening varieties characterized by a long growing season, which makes them best sown in greenhouses.

Pests and diseases - how to deal with them?

When growing leeks, gardeners often face various problems, diseases, and pests. The list of problems can be impressive - this is powdery mildew, and black mold, and many other diseases.

Let's take a look at the most effective methods wrestling:

Aphid

It is this pest that carries such a virus as Mosaic. It is very simple to determine it: light spots appear on the leaves, the growth of the plant is inhibited. Alas, it is very difficult to deal with Mosaic - the only option is the complete destruction of diseased plants and preventive measures against the aphid itself.

powdery mildew

On the leaves of diseased seedlings, white spots form, which begin to grow rapidly, eventually affecting the entire plant. In this case, the plant should not be eaten. With powdery mildew, it is best to treat with a copper oxychloride solution.

Rust

Determining rust is easy - bright spots appear on the leaves yellow color. Rusted green parts of leeks slowly wither and die. Alas, the plants affected by this fungus will have to be destroyed.

onion fly

The onion fly is an insidious pest that mainly feeds on leaves, leaving "mazes" on them. The larvae that infect the roots of the plant are also dangerous. As preventive measure carrots should be planted near the beds with onions, the smell of which repels the pest.

But you can also fight the fly and other means. Water the beds saline solution(200 g of salt for every 10 liters of water), a mixture of black pepper and wood ash.

Conclusion

As you can see, growing leeks is not that difficult. The main thing is to clearly adhere to all the rules and tips given in our article - in this case, you can harvest an excellent harvest.

In contact with

IN Lately cultivation is becoming popular garden plots such a rare culture for Russia as leeks, also known as pearl onions. It is believed that growing leeks requires a lot of time and effort. This statement is true only in comparison in growing: in fact, caring for pearl onions is no more difficult than caring for any vegetable crop.

• Put the seeds in a small container.
• Pour hot water(50°C).
• Leave for 20 min.
• Drain the water.
• Put the seeds in wet fabric pouch or gauze.
• Place the bag of seeds in a dark place.
• The fabric must be damp.
• After a week, get the seeds, dry them slightly and plant them in the ground.

Leek seeds do not absorb water very well, and this treatment will allow them to accumulate the moisture necessary for germination.

Technology for sowing leek seeds in open ground:

• Before sowing, dig the bed to a depth of 20 cm and apply - 4 kg of compost and 40 g of urea, potassium salt and superphosphate are taken per 1 square meter of soil.
• Lightly tamp the soil.
• Make grooves 8 cm deep.
• Sow in furrows.
• Sprinkle with earth in a layer of 2-3 cm.
• Compact the soil again (you can slap it with your hand).

After the seedlings grow to a height of 10 cm, they must be permanent place at a distance of at least 15 cm from each other, observing a gap between rows of 50 cm.

For seedlings, leek seeds are sown in February-March. Seedling containers can be very different: sowing boxes, pots (at least 12 cm in diameter) or greenhouse beds.

The composition of the soil for seedlings can be as follows:

• Peat - one part
• Garden soil - one part
• Humus - one and a half parts.

Pour the prepared soil into seedling containers with a layer of 8-10 cm, compact and pour with a solution of potassium permanganate (40-50 ° C) for disinfection.

Pearl onion care, in addition to top dressing and hilling, includes regular weeding, loosening and watering. Plants should be watered every 4-5 days, increasing the frequency of watering only on very hot and dry days. Water consumption is 10 liters per square meter of soil. The water temperature should be 15 degrees.

The harvest time depends on the leek variety: some varieties begin to be harvested as early as August, others intended for storage - not earlier than October. The best time to harvest leeks is a few days before frost.

Leeks are carefully dug up and, holding by the stem, are pulled out of the ground. The plant for storage is cut to a length of 25 cm, the roots are shortened to 2 cm, placed in containers and sprinkled with wet sand. It is impossible to completely cut off the roots, because without them, the onion begins to rot.

The most acceptable storage temperature is 1-2 degrees.

Leek has an amazing unique feature: during storage, it increases the content of ascorbic acid in the stem by one and a half times. No other vegetable has this property.

More information can be found in the video.

It is very easy to grow leeks in your own land. Even a novice gardener can count on a good harvest. If you have heard about the benefits of this vegetable and want to plant it in your garden, first learn how to properly grow and care for leeks. If you take into account the biology of culture and follow agricultural technology, a positive result will be guaranteed.

Leek grows well and bears fruit in regions with warm and temperate climate. This is a plant with a long growing season. Depending on the variety, onions of this species ripen 130-200 days after shoots appear. But you can eat a vegetable earlier, selectively digging up the largest specimens. Mature leek plants are able to withstand temperature drops, and even frosts. The growth of young bulbs in the first months is slow, they are demanding of heat and light.

Grow leeks outdoors. But each region does it differently. In the southern regions, leek seeds are sown directly into the ground when the soil warms up to at least 10 ° C. With a long and warm summer, the plants have time to fully grow and give a full harvest.

IN middle lane and, especially in Siberia, leeks are cultivated only seedling way. For example, in Leningrad region plants develop well when planted in greenhouses and hotbeds around the beginning - mid-April. In the north, seeds are sown early to obtain seedlings. Usually they do this in late February - early March. Grown in room conditions. Young onions are transplanted into the beds when it reaches 50-60 days, from the beginning to the middle of May. The seedling method of growing leeks can be practiced in any other area to obtain earlier production.

The method of planting leek seedlings in open ground allows you to shift the vegetation period of plants to a more favorable period. In areas with short and cold summers, this is of great importance. As practice shows, a leek planted with seeds in the ground simply does not have time to ripen in such conditions. The gardener has to harvest ahead of schedule. As a result, the storage period of the vegetable is greatly reduced. Seedling leek ripens completely.

Variety selection and seed preparation for planting

When going for leek seeds, it is important to choose the right variety for growing. The name here is of secondary importance, the main thing to pay attention to is the timing of the maturation of the culture. All varieties of leek can be divided into early, medium and late.

Early ripe leeks are also called summer leeks. Plants complete stem formation 130-150 days after sprouts appear. They are dug up in August, they have an average yield and are not stored for a long time. Usually such onions are immediately used for cooking or frozen for future use. It has a mild pleasant taste. Early ripe varieties can be grown without restrictions in any region. The most famous among gardeners include:

• Vesta;
• Goliath;
• Elephant's trunk;
• Columbus;
• Kilim.

Mid-season varieties need 150-180 days to mature. They are characterized by more dark color leaf, large stalk, often with a pronounced bulb, high resistance to infectious diseases. Such leeks are harvested in autumn, in September or October, stored for several months, used fresh and canned. Mid-season varieties grow well in the south, in the middle lane and in the north. Well-proven varieties on the beds:

• Tango;
• Jolite;
• Kamus;
• Bastion.

Late-ripening varieties - winter. They are intended for long-term storage, have a short dense leg, ripen 6 months after germination or more. They are distinguished by a large amount of vitamins and minerals, they tolerate temperature drops and even small frosts well. You can distinguish them in the beds by dark-colored leaves with a wax coating, which often have a sprawling shape. The most famous garden varieties include:

• leek Karantansky;
• Mercury;
• Autumn giant;
• Bandit;
• elephant;
• Asgeos.

They are grown only in areas with a long summer, harvested just before the frost.

Presowing preparation of leek seeds in the spring before planting is not always carried out. If you buy a bag in a store, in additional processing its content is not needed. Such seeds are already treated with fungicides and have good germination. They can be sown dry, especially in open ground. Let them rise a few days later, but they will not die if it gets cold outside.

For growing in a greenhouse and at home, the seeds can be soaked in growth stimulants before planting. Own seed is first disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate. To make seedlings appear faster, leek seeds are left in a damp cloth until germination. Then they are dried a little and buried in the ground.

Sowing leeks for seedlings

Getting leeks from seeds is quite simple. 2 months before the proposed planting of plants in the ground, convenient containers and fertile soil are prepared. Suitable for forcing leek seedlings wooden boxes, plastic or peat cups, cassettes. They must be deep to accommodate the powerful root system of plants and have drainage holes at the bottom to drain excess fluid.

For growing leeks through seedlings, light, loose, moisture-intensive soil mixtures are used, which are rich in humus and other nutrients. They are prepared on their own or they buy ready-made soil mixture for vegetables in stores. Leek seedlings also grow well in special peat mixtures.

To plant the seeds, the containers are filled with soil, moistened well. In boxes, plants are placed every 5 cm. In cups and cassettes - one in each container or cell. Seeds, germinated or dry, are buried 1 cm into the ground. You can simply spread them on the ground and sprinkle them with a layer of earth on top. Next, the containers are covered with a film to preserve moisture and left indoors at a temperature of 22-25 ° C.

seedling care

When shoots appear, the container with young seedlings is transferred to a well-lit place and the film cover is removed. To prevent plants from stretching, the temperature in their growth zone is reduced to 16-18 ° C during the day, and 10-12 ° C at night. With early sowing of seeds, additional lighting is carried out with lamps. For active growth Leek needs 10-12 hours of light.

Onion seedlings need regular watering warm water, but irrigation should be moderate. It is carried out as it dries upper layers soil. Over-watering causes rot and stretching of the onion, especially if it lacks light and is too warm.

For the entire period of cultivation, leek is fed several times. The first time this is done 7-10 days after the seedlings appear en masse, then every 1-2 weeks. use complex fertilizers with trace elements, saltpeter or organic. At this time, plants mainly need nitrogen to build green mass.

1-1.5 weeks before the upcoming planting, leek seedlings begin to harden. Gradually, plants are accustomed to open ground conditions, temperature, sun and wind. Plants with 2-3 leaves and a stem 3-5 mm in diameter are planted on the beds.

Site selection and garden preparation

To grow large onion leek in the country or in the garden near the house, you need to prepare beds for it in the fall. This plant is sensitive to lack of light, loves sunny places and does not tolerate shading. Therefore, the site under the leek is chosen so that it is removed from deaf fences, trees, buildings and tall neighboring plants.

It is good to plant this type of onion after cabbage, potatoes, legumes, cucumbers or tomatoes. These cultures are considered the best predecessors leek, after which it grows well and gives high yields. You can not plant it in the garden, where previously there were garlic and onions, regardless of its variety. These plants share common pests and diseases. Yes and nutrients from the soil they take out the same.

Leek prefers to grow on fertile, moisture-intensive soils, preferably on light loams with soil acidity close to neutral. Before digging, the beds must be filled with organic matter. Leek responds well to top dressing of the following composition: 10-15 kg of humus are taken per 1 m 2 of area, as well as phosphorus- potash fertilizers. It can be ash (2 cups) or superphosphate and potassium sulfate at the full rate.

With a lack of organic matter, it can be applied in the spring, scattering compost or humus on the beds before planting. It is not necessary to dig up the earth. The only exceptions are viscous floating soils.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Leek plants are transplanted into the beds in early to mid-May. A few hours before this, the plants are watered abundantly. Work is carried out on a cloudy and calm day - so the seedlings take root better.

In order to successfully grow leeks in the open field, beds are first laid out. Depending on the variety, 20-40 cm are left between the rows. Furrows (holes) about 10-15 cm deep are made along the marker. Plants are planted in them.

At seedlings, before planting, the roots are shortened by a third of their length. Sometimes the tip of the feathers is also cut off. Seedlings are planted at the bottom of the furrow (hole). They bury another 5-7 cm into the ground. Between the leek in a row, they maintain a distance of 10 to 25 cm. Late varieties leeks and those with spreading leaves are planted less frequently. The earth around the stems is slightly tamped so that voids do not form. After planting, the beds are watered abundantly along the furrows (holes).

When the temperature drops, the plants are covered from frost with a film. Remove it only when stable heat comes.

Leek care

Agrotechnics of leek is not particularly difficult. All the time during the growing season of plants, the beds are kept clean of weeds, the soil is often loosened between the rows. As the plants grow, they are spudded. They do this several times a season. First, earth is poured into the furrows, then ridges are formed near the stems. Thus, by the end of leek cultivation, large bleached legs are obtained.

During the growth period, plants need watering. In the southern regions, irrigation is carried out regularly, approximately 1 time in 5-7 days, increasing the rate by the time the stem thickens, which is observed by the middle of the growing season. In the northern regions, watering of plants is carried out less often, the leek does not like an excess of moisture at the roots.

A good increase in yield is given by top dressing. Leek can be grown on pure organic matter. Plants during the period of growth, development and growth of the stem need nitrogen and potassium fertilizers. Therefore, top dressing with liquid mullein, a solution of bird droppings and ash will perfectly satisfy the need of plants for these elements.

The first time the leek is fertilized 2-3 weeks after its planting. organic nutrition bring in the aisles, and not in the furrows. The ash is simply mixed with the earth during hilling. Use 1 cup for every m 2 . From mineral fertilizers apply ammonium or potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate. Feed the leek 3-4 times during the entire growing season. If the plants grow and develop normally, they are fed less often. On the fertile soils 2 top dressings are enough. strong infatuation nitrogen fertilizers may lead to a decrease in the keeping quality of the product after harvesting.

Many love leek, it makes a delicious soup, a very healthy vegetable. When planting leeks for the first time, gardeners face growing problems.

Consider secrets of growing leeks from sowing seeds to harvesting and storing crops.

Leek – biennial plant height from 40 cm to 1 m. In the first year, a root system with a false white bulb up to 12 cm long and up to 8 cm in diameter. In the second year, a peduncle up to 2 m long develops with white or pink flowers, seeds ripen in August-September. Seeds remain viable for two years.

Leek grown from seeds and seedlings. In the southern regions, seeds are sown in open ground. In the northern and central regions, they are grown from seedlings. Leek is a cold-resistant culture, demanding on moisture.

Leek precursors

Leek grows well in areas where legumes grew before: beans, peas, soybeans and others; White cabbage, tomatoes, green manure, potatoes. Do not plant in an area where any type of onion has grown.

growing season leek about 6-7 months, so the seeds are sown in open ground to obtain salad greens at the end of July.

Seeds are sown in the second half of April in shallow grooves, the distance between which is 20-25 cm, and between plants 15-25 cm, depending on the variety. The temperature should be 8-12 degrees at night and 20 degrees during the day.

Before sowing seeds, they must be treated (disinfected), especially for those collected in their own garden. First, they are placed in hot water(40-45 degrees), then lowered into cold water.

To get quick shoots, the seeds are still germinated. A cloth napkin is moistened with water, the seeds are laid out on top. Leave the seeds in a warm (20-25 degrees) place for 2-3 days.

Dry the hatched seeds for several hours so that they crumble and can be sown and sown in the ground.

If you use purchased seeds, there is no need to process them, sow immediately in the ground.

Video - Planting leeks in the ground

To speed up the ripening process leeks grown from seedlings.

In early March, seeds are sown for seedlings at home. Sowing seeds in a greenhouse is carried out in mid-April, when grown on a bed under a film, they are sown at the end of April. The soil should be light, sod-humus.

Dishes for planting, cups and other containers must be disinfected strong mortar potassium permanganate. The roots of leeks are long, so the containers should be up to 10-12 cm high.

Fill the containers with earth, lightly tamp, pour. Sow prepared seeds (see above how to do this) and sprinkle with sand, a layer of 5 mm.

Cover all containers with glass or film. Move to a warm place with a temperature of 22-25 degrees until germination.

Air the crops daily and spray with water.

Leek seedling care

The first shoots appear after 10 days. The film is necessary and put the seedlings in bright diffused light in a room with a temperature of up to 18-20 degrees during the day and 10-12 at night. Leek roots should be warm, put foam under the containers. Water the seedlings with warm water, make sure that direct sunlight does not fall. If the seedlings have grown densely, thin out.

First dressing carried out when the seedlings grow. To do this, prepare the following solution: for 10 liters of water, dilute 40 grams of superphosphate and 20 grams of potassium chloride and ammonium nitrate.

Leek seedlings at the age of 50-60 days are planted in open ground. Before planting, leek seedlings are abundantly watered. In the process of planting, horses and leaves are trimmed by 1/3. Plant seedlings in the evening or on cloudy days.

soil for leeks

The site for leeks should be sunny, as far as possible from shrubs and trees. The soil for planting leeks is prepared in the fall, adding a bucket of humus, 1 teaspoon of urea and 2 tablespoons of nitrophoska per m 2 of the plot. After that, the area is dug up. On too acidic soils, carry out liming.

With the onset of spring, 3 kg of humus or compost are added per m 2 of the plot, there is no need to dig. Fertilizers will enter the soil when planting seedlings and watering leeks.

In the process of growing seedlings, it is hardened at 6-7 weeks, taking it out into the open air for some time. On the site for planting seedlings, make grooves 10-15 cm deep and 20-30 cm apart. Seedlings are planted in grooves at a distance of 10-20 cm from each other, it all depends on the variety.

Leek seedlings are lightly sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly so that there is no air left around the root system.

Leeks are often planted with seeds before winter, directly into the ground. In the summer they prepare the site, fertilize and dig. In November, furrows are made every 20 cm between them and the seeds are laid out every 8-10 cm into the furrows. Keep an eye on the weather, if it's warm, the leek will sprout and die from frost in the winter.

Be sure to mulch the area with peat and snow when it falls. The more snow there is on the site, the better for the leek, in the spring it will not freeze until the snow melts and frosts pass.

Conduct regular watering, weeding and loosening the soil, pest and disease control.

Loosen the soil once every two weeks. To grow a bleached stalk, and this main value leek, it is necessary 3-4 times during the entire growing season, to carry out the hilling of plants.

The first hilling is carried out in the middle of summer, after which it is mulched with dry grass, straw, dry manure.

After planting seedlings in open ground, the plants are not watered for three days. Moisture is the main component of the growth of leeks, so further watering is carried out once every 5 days, 10 liters of warm water per m 2.

Before each hilling, it is necessary to sprinkle wood ash under the onion stalks, at the rate of a glass of ash per m 2 of the plot.

For the entire period, 3 top dressings of leeks will be needed.

First carried out 3 weeks after planting seedlings in open ground. In 10 liters of water, dilute 15 grams of potassium salt and 20 grams of ammonium nitrate. This is enough to water a plot of 4 m 2.

From organic fertilizers, a solution of bird droppings diluted 1x20 with water or a solution of mullein diluted 1x10 are well suited.

Video - Growing leeks

Of the diseases, the most dangerous is the mosaic - the aphid is the carrier of this viral disease. Longitudinal yellow spots appear on the leaves of the leek.

Also, from diseases, leeks suffer from such fungal diseases: rust and powdery mildew.

When sick powdery mildew oval spots appear, increasing in size over time, on leek leaves.

Plants affected by these diseases become inedible.

Rust manifests itself by the presence of bright yellow spores on leek leaves. Affected leaves dry up.

How to deal with diseases?

It is necessary to treat the plants and soil in the area with a solution of copper oxychloride or Fitosporin.

Viral diseases are not curable, so agricultural techniques will help to cope with the mosaic:

Weed and pest control;
Observe crop rotation;
Disinfect seeds for sowing, be sure;
Removal of infected plants;
Growing varieties of leeks resistant to viruses.

In May, you can already notice the pest, the fly lays eggs on the leaves and soil. After a couple of days, larvae appear feeding on the middle of the leek, the plants wither and rot.

Fighting onion fly

To protect the crop from the onion fly, the site is pollinated wood ash or a mixture of ash with tobacco dust. For 1 m 2 of the plot, you will need 1 glass of ash or a mixture of tobacco and ash.

fly repellent treatment ground pepper, a teaspoon per m 2 of the plot after processing, carry out a shallow loosening of the soil.

Helps to fight onion fly solution with ammonia with a proportion of 2 tbsp. l. ammonia per 10 liters, water 3 times at intervals of 10 days.

To definitely get rid of the onion fly, plant in the aisles celery.

Video - ONION FLY a simple way to fight

Produce onion harvesting necessary before the onset of frost -5 degrees. Dig with a shovel, leave to dry for a while at the edge of the furrow. Then clean the stems from the ground, cut the roots and send for storage. Leaves of a leek do not cut, otherwise there will be a rapid wilting of plants.

Store leeks possible in different ways. When stored in a cellar with a temperature of -1 + 1 and a humidity of 85 percent. Equip a storage box, pour a layer of 5 cm wet on the bottom river sand, onion stalks are vertically arranged, the space is covered with sand. In this way, leeks can be stored for up to 6 months.

When stored in the refrigerator, cut the leaves and roots, put 8 pieces in a perforated plastic bag and store at a temperature of -5 degrees for 4-5 months.

You can also store chopped leeks. Cut stems with leaves, pour into plastic bags layer of 5 cm and stored in the freezer.

Video - Leek. Cleaning and storage

You have learned all about growing leeks in the garden. Leek contains few calories, it can be attributed to dietary products. It is prepared from delicious soups, borscht, pickle. A very useful vegetable.

Big harvests of leeks to you!

Popular with gardeners, leeks are a healthy vegetable with a slightly spicy taste. Contains vitamins and microelements necessary for the human body. It is grown in industrial, farm and summer cottages. For good yields, you should know how to plant leeks. It has its own characteristics of planting, growth, care in the open field.

Origin of culture

Where this vegetable came from is not known for certain. The electors are inclined to believe that his homeland is Mesopotamia, which is the name of the region on the territory of Iraq and Iran. Egyptian manuscripts found by archaeologists contain information that the builders of the pyramids included a vegetable similar to a leek in their diet. Onions were brought to the Mediterranean from Asian countries, and were used in Rome, Greece, and Europe. In the ancestor of the modern leek, the bulb was more pronounced. Now culture is grown everywhere.

Characteristics and description of the leek:

• biennial herbaceous plant;
• belongs to the onion family;
• propagated by seeds;
• height 0.4-0.9 m;
• in the first year of growth, the root system develops, the white leg grows up to 12 cm with a diameter of 2-8 cm;
• in the second year, the plant produces an arrow with seeds.

What does a leek look like

Another name for it is the Pearly Prince. In Russia, due to the peculiarities of growing and caring for leeks, they are cultivated mainly in the southern regions, but there are ways to get a good harvest in other regions. In terms of frequency of use in nutrition, it is second only to onion and garlic. For food use fresh, boiled, stewed, baked, marinated. The taste of a fresh vegetable is slightly pungent, but not burning.

The height of the plant from the ground is 0.4-0.9 m. The leaves are green or bluish.

The flowers are white or pinkish, the inflorescence forms an umbrella, similar to a large ball, does not form a bulb. Can separate several onion babies.

The stem is thick, white. The leaves are long and grow in bunches. For clarity, in the photo leeks:

Varietal diversity

Early, mid-season and late leek varieties are known. The early ones include the Elephant Trunk, Vesta, Goliath. They ripen in August and are used fresh or canned. Mid-season are Bastion, Winner, Tango, Elephant. Stored up to 3 months. Late varieties are left to winter in the ground, harvested in early spring. Late-ripening onion Karantansky, Elefant, Autumn giant.

There are 2 ways to grow leeks: from seeds and seedlings. Under bad climatic conditions, it is grown from seedlings so that it has time to ripen. In the southern regions, the soil warms up quickly, so it is permissible to immediately grow from seeds.

Useful properties and contraindications

Leek contains sodium, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, E, H, group B. It is a dietary product because it has few calories. Saturated with iron and vitamin C. This allows the vegetable to be used in the prevention and treatment of anemia. Ascorbic acid increases protective properties organism, breaks down body fat.

Fiber improves intestinal motility, creates favorable conditions for the development of beneficial microflora. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure. Essential oils leeks ease breathing, help with flu, bronchitis, hay fever. vegetable reduces high level cholesterol, is the prevention of cancer (with the exception of smokers).

If there is even one of the contraindications, you should think about how you can replace the leek in the diet. fresh vegetable contraindicated in:

• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• disruption of the kidneys, bladder;
• urolithiasis;
• elevated blood pressure;
• individual intolerance.

In limited quantities, leeks can be eaten by lactating women. Excess consumption of vegetables can cause headache. For diarrhea and hyperacidity stomach onion can exacerbate the situation. In the presence of a tumor caused by smoking, it is undesirable to use it, as it can cause its growth.

Growing seedlings from seeds

Leek is a biennial plant. Delicate leaves, juicy stem grow only in the second year of his life. But there are several ways to grow leeks from seeds in one season: early sowing in a greenhouse and pre-growing seedlings. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages, each gardener chooses what is acceptable for himself.

The active period of growth is 150-200 days. This process is accelerated by growing leeks through seedlings. Landing time: end of February - beginning of March.

Seed material is prepared, planted in separate containers, jars. The grown seedlings are transferred to the ground or greenhouse (greenhouse).

Preparation and sowing

Leek requires pre-planting seeds and caring for seedlings. Seeds can be used 3-4 years after they are collected. For getting big harvest it is advisable to take young seeds. But for prevention viral diseases, on the contrary, lying down - only after 2 years of storage.

Soak leek seeds in warm water for 25 minutes, then dip in cool water and remove. Sometimes rinsing with running boiling water through a sieve is used, followed by pouring cold water. Then wrap in a damp cloth, leave for a few days, periodically moisturizing. This will speed up the emergence of shoots. Let the seeds dry a bit before planting.

Further actions with planting material depend on climatic conditions, vegetable varieties. In the southern regions early ripe varieties can be immediately planted in the ground. In other areas, sow the seeds in pre-prepared containers. They must be at least 12 cm deep, disinfected, treated with a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate. It is important to planting material there was room for the development of the root system.

Fill the containers with light humus soil, tamp a little, water well. Sow seeds 5 cm apart, cover with sand 5 mm, do not water immediately, cover with foil. Keep at 22-25 C until seedlings appear.

Features of seedling care

Growing leek seedlings to germination will take 2-3 weeks. Then the containers should be moved to a cooler place for 1 week (temperature from 10 C at night to 17 C during the day). Further grow at night temperatures from 13 C and daytime temperatures up to 20 C. It is important to provide seedlings with 12-hour daylight hours. For these purposes, you can use LED or phytolamps.

Leek seedling care involves regular and sufficient watering. Drying out of the soil is unacceptable. 1 month after germination, thin out the onion, leaving 3-4 cm between sprouts. After the leek grows by 10 cm, cut the seedlings every 2 weeks, leaving this height. It is necessary to make 2 top dressings: 2 weeks after germination and 1 week before planting seedlings.

Attention! Picking when growing leeks is undesirable. This can damage small roots.

Planting seedlings in beds

Growing leeks requires constant care: when growing seedlings, after planting in the ground. Subject to all the rules, seedlings give strong seedlings with formed leaves. After planting, seedlings also need to be looked after, observing the rules of watering, hilling, and top dressing. Care must be taken not to develop viral, bacterial, fungal diseases pests did not appear.

When to plant leeks

The plant should be strong, the root system should be well developed. In open ground, leeks should be planted when 3-4 leaves are formed. This usually happens 2 months after sowing the seeds. The height of the plant is about 15 cm. When planting seedlings, the temperature should not fall below 0 C even at night.

It must be remembered that frosts are detrimental to young onions. Therefore, the main condition for landing is warmed earth. On average - mid-May, 55-60 days after sowing.

Leek seedlings grown and planted in the ground must be further looked after. There are varieties that remain in the ground all winter, and the crop is harvested in the spring. They should be planted in the summer, and in the fall you can already eat young onions. The main harvest remains until spring, while over the winter useful material from the leaves pass into the stem, the onion becomes even better.

Garden preparation

Before planting leeks, you need to prepare the beds. It is good if before him tomatoes, legumes, potatoes, cabbage, eggplants grew in this soil. It is undesirable to plant in the same place more than 1 time in 3 years. Leek neighbors can be beets, carrots, strawberries, celery. With them, you can alternate the beds.

Before planting, pre-dig the ground, fertilize. If the soil is acidic (leek does not grow on such), you can add ground limestone or dolomite flour. It is advisable to mark the landing lines in advance. The soil should not be dry, moisten before planting, but do not flood.

Landing technology

It is important to know how to properly plant leeks. In order for the harvest to be good, a bright, open place is chosen, the soil is prepared. You need to plant seedlings in mid-late May, in some regions weather allow this to be done at the end of April, beginning of May.

On a note! Before planting seedlings, it is useful to dip the roots of seedlings in a mash for growth: clay and mullein (1: 1) with water.

When planting, seedlings should have from 3 leaves. Pre-water abundantly, trim the roots and leaves by 1/3. Plant in long V-shaped furrows. Can be planted from individual containers in holes. It is good to loosen the bottom of the furrow in advance, apply fertilizer (for example, manure, ash). Between future plants there should be 10-15 cm, and between rows 35-50 cm. After planting, leeks require care.

Direct sowing into the ground

Another way to grow leeks is directly from seed to soil. Sowing dates are the same, depending on the region of cultivation. It is necessary that the soil has time to warm up, frosts are very undesirable, they can ruin the crop. Treat seeds before planting: disinfect, you can also use a solution of manganese. Soak first in warm water, then dip in cold water. Or rinse first with hot and then cold water. Keep a few days in a wet cloth to germinate.

When planting leeks in the ground, the soil must first be prepared (watered, fertilized, loosened). You can make V-shaped grooves. Leave about 10 cm between rows. Sow seeds to a depth of 1 cm. Sow leeks only when the seeds swell. When shoots appear, they need to be shaded a little from the sun's rays.

In the Moscow region, leeks are planted first in greenhouses. Then the strengthened plants are grown on open ground, providing care. You can plant onions with subsequent wintering. In Siberia, the cultivation and care of leeks is somewhat different. Seeds are not sown in the ground. It is imperative to grow seedlings, but they should be planted in the ground not in mid-May, but in June, when there is no danger of prolonged frosts. For an adult plant, frost is not terrible. In autumn, you can not rush to harvest. Early maturing varieties are used.

In the Urals, planting and caring for leeks on the open ground differ significantly in its different regions: in the Urals, you can follow the rules for planting onions, as in the Moscow region. and the Trans-Urals are similar in climatic conditions to Siberia, where the method of growing is the same.

Features of care

To get a high yield from plantings, it is important to know how to grow leeks. It is necessary to follow the rules of watering, fertilizing, hilling. Leek does not get along well with weeds. It is necessary to monitor the appearance of pests and diseases, take timely measures. Further in more detail, how to care for leeks after planting.

Main condition successful cultivation vegetables - regular watering (every 4-6 days), you need to irrigate with cold water along the furrows (1 bucket per 1 m 2). To retain moisture and prevent the growth of weeds, cover the soil between the beds with straw or peat. Stagnation of moisture also negatively affects the development of onions and can lead to plant diseases.

top dressing

For the entire period of growth of leeks, it is fed several times with fertilizers with ammonium nitrate, mullein, ash or bird droppings. 2-3 weeks after planting in the ground between the furrows, it is required to shed a solution of ammonium nitrate (20 g), potassium salt (15 g) per 10 liters of water. Repeat every 2-3 weeks.

Sprinkle with wood ash before hilling: 1 tbsp. powder per 1 m 2. fit and organic fertilizers: To breed mullein for 1 part of organic matter, use 8 parts of water. A solution of bird droppings is prepared in a ratio of 1:20.

Attention! Nitrogen-containing fertilizers should not be used. Nitrogen causes leek to rot.

Watering and hilling

After planting seedlings in the ground or sowing seeds, watering should be monitored, water stagnation and overdrying of the soil should be prevented. The first 3 days after planting, the seedlings do not need to be moistened, then watered once every 4-5 days. It is better to carry out watering along the furrows, do not wet the plants themselves. Sprinkle the soil with straw, hay, dried manure or peat. This will retain moisture and keep weeds from growing.

You need to grow leeks with regular hilling - 4-5 times per season. Thanks to this, the onion stalk (leg) acquires White color. Loosen the soil every 14 days, weeds must be removed.

Diseases and pests

It is not difficult to grow leeks in the country, you just need to follow some of the nuances of sowing, growing, and caring. But all efforts can be in vain when plants are infected with viruses, fungi or pests. The main threats to leeks are:

• root mite;
• secretive proboscis;
• onion moth, fly;
• hoverfly;
• nematode;
• peronosporosis;
• cervical and bacterial rot;
• green moldy rot.

When a growing leek is infected with viruses, fungal diseases, pests, in most cases it will be necessary to remove the affected plants. To protect landings, observe following rules:

• use of healthy seeds, better after 2 years of storage;
• alternate plant cultures, sow onions in their original place only after 3 years;
• plant after potatoes, celery, turnips, cabbage, cucumbers;
• before sowing, scald the seeds with boiling water;
• before planting or during top dressing, apply Zemlin, Bazudin or other means to the soil;
• observe the rules of watering, fertilizing, loosening, hilling;
• spray with insecticide if necessary;
• next door you can plant carrots or celery;
• alternate beds of celery and leek;
• harvest ripe crops in time;
• comply with the rules of storage;
• completely remove the remains of plants from the beds.

Harvest and storage

It is advisable not to pluck leaves from leeks intended for long-term storage during growth. It is necessary to collect ripe onions before the temperature drops to -5 C. Dig up the plants, dry them a little, remove clods of earth with your hands, while trying not to pollute the green part of the earth.

Trim the roots, leaving 1/3. The leaves can also be trimmed, but for long-term storage, it is better to leave them long. Next, remove the onions for the winter, sorting out all damaged and affected by diseases or pests.

There are several ways to store leeks:

1. Storage in a box (bucket) with sand. Preliminary 30-40 min. calcinate the sand in the oven at a temperature of 200 C. Before laying the vegetable, slightly moisten the sand, but do not allow it to become wet. Pour 5-7 cm of sand into the box, place the leek stalks vertically. Add more sand, covering the entire white part of the stem. Cover with a lid, put in a cool (about 0 C) and damp (80-85%) place - basement, cellar. If the leek will be stored on the balcony, cover the top wadded blanket.
2. In a trench on an elevated place. Dig a trench 6-7 cm wide, lay a leek in it, sprinkle with earth, cover with boards, leaving small holes. In rain and frost, cover with a film on top.
3. In the pit Dig a hole that will fit the entire bow in vertical position. Load the leek, sprinkle with earth. In cold weather, close the top with dry leaves. It is advisable to put coniferous branches on the pit to scare away rodents.
4. Greenhouse. You can put the structure directly above the leek beds. It is better to dig it out first and shorten the roots, this will stop growth, save taste qualities. It is necessary to dig the onion halfway into the ground, collect a greenhouse from above. The temperature inside must be at least 0 C.
5. Chilled or frozen. Rinse whole leeks, dry, cut, put in a bag, fill with air, close. Shelf life - 1 month. To freeze leeks for the winter, they also need to be washed and dried, cut, arranged in portions and frozen.
6. Drying onions. Rinse the vegetables, dry, chop, leave for a few days at room temperature. From above it is desirable to cover with gauze. Can be dried in the oven for 15 minutes. at 100 C. Store such onions hermetically sealed in a dry, cool place.

Subject to all the rules for growing and caring for leeks, it gives a high yield. Variety of varieties and many ways to save harvested crop allow you to enrich the diet with tasty and useful vegetable during the whole year. When using, you must remember about the presence of contraindications to its use.