How to grow leeks. Planting technology and proper plant care

Leek is one of the most unpretentious and valuable garden crops in terms of composition. This bright representative of healthy food can be used as an independent product, seasoning or preservation aid. It is easy to plant and care for him in open ground conditions. But still, in order to grow this onion from seeds, you need to know a few of its features. The article will give tips on planting and further caring for useful leek with the help of videos and recommendations from gardeners.

What is the value of leek

Leek or pearl onion is one of the oldest and most popular crops in the world, along with onion and garlic. The leaders in the production of leeks are Belgium, the Netherlands, partly France and Great Britain, Egypt and the countries of the Middle East. In Russia, the leek appeared only in the 20th century and still has not received much distribution.

It is not easy to find such a bow on the market. You can buy it in a supermarket, but in this case, the organic and environmental friendliness of the culture is in doubt. It is better to grow leek yourself, because it does not require excessive attention and conditions. This culture is rich in trace elements and vitamins. In particular, it has a huge concentration of vitamin C.

Leek

The white leg is a false stem - what is eaten and appreciated in a leek. It is especially rich in potassium (up to 250 mg per 100 g), which improves metabolism. The plant also contains many essential oils. Onion is an excellent weight loss fighter, it is not for nothing that it is recommended for all kinds of diets. Leek normalizes the functioning of the liver and stomach, improves blood composition.

Attention! Pearl onions are contraindicated only for patients with stomach ulcers and gastritis.

Do not forget about the agricultural benefits of leek. An ordinary plant has a “lush” and thick root. If it is not dug up after harvest, it will enrich the soil with organic matter. In Europe, the practice of growing leeks for this very purpose is common.

Planting a leek with seeds

Plant onions in the following ways:

seeds;
seedlings;
seeds in winter sowing (without soaking and germination).

Leek seed retains germination for 3 years. Moreover, it is better to take not fresh, but lain for a couple of years. If you purchased seeds from a store, there is no need to pre-cook them. If it is homemade material, its preparation is similar to the processing of cabbage seeds.

leek seeds

You need to start in March, just before landing:

Disinfect the seeds by placing them first in heated water (about 45C), then in cold water.
Germinate the seeds. Lay on a cloth soaked in room temperature water and leave in a warm place.
After three days, collect the seeds and dry a little to make it easier to sow. Then immediately place in the ground.

When choosing a planting site, use the principles of plant compatibility. As predecessor plants, pearl onions like carrots, cucumbers, legumes, early potatoes, onions, cabbage and garlic. Soil for leek gardeners are advised to fertilize first. The leek planting scheme is as follows:

seed location depth - no more than 2 cm;
spacing between rows - 15-25 cm.

Planting a leek with seedlings

For areas with a cool and temperate climate, it is recommended to grow leek seedlings according to the following scheme:

Advice. To help the seedlings take root in the ground, gardeners are advised to pre-dip the roots in a composition of equal proportions of mullein and clay.

Leek care features

Despite the simplicity, the agricultural technique of growing a crop will require precision from you. The leek needs the most attention immediately after planting in the soil. Important conditions for caring for a strong plant:

Strictly monitor the absence of weeds - they can greatly harm the leek.
Onions categorically do not like dry soil. Water regularly, but do not over-moisten.
Hill up 3-4 times during the season. After each - cover the soil with straw, dry grass or loose manure.

You need to feed the plant, but keep in mind that the leek does not accept nitrogen-containing substances. This is important for the future storage of culture, because it grows even in a plucked state. Due to nitrogen, onions can simply rot in the basement. It is better to feed the leek like this:

start when the culture grows to 15-20 cm and forms 4-5 leaves;
make a solution: 1 liter of cow manure in a bucket of water;
water the aisles, but in no case the plant itself;
for enriched soil, feed the plant with an infusion of freshly cut herbs, for example, nettle is suitable.

It is also important to properly water the leek. The plant needs abundant moisture in June, during active weight gain, and also in July, when a false bulb is formed. But keep in mind: there should not be a swamp in the garden.

onion shoots

The leek has ailments and pests characteristic of it and its relatives: onion rust, black mold. It is overcome by downy mildew, as well as cervical rot, fusarium, and onion fly. Keep an eye on the bow and take action in a timely manner. To combat the onion fly, gardeners are advised to water the plant with salt water, and sprinkle the soil with ground pepper or carrot seeds. The latter will scare away pests, even if it just grows nearby. In the case of rust, downy mildew and some other diseases, the current crop will have to say goodbye for the sake of the future. It is necessary to treat the beds to destroy bacteria.

Leek is harvested at the end of autumn. It has another interesting property - frost resistance. If the winter is not too cold, then sprinkled with needles, straw and light peat, the onion will sleep well and will yield a crop in early spring. Leek needs simple, albeit painstaking care - and then your own grown, very healthy and tasty greens will appear on your table.