Leek

Common Name:
Leek

Description:
Leek is a versatile and hardy cool-season vegetable, valued for its mild, sweet onion-like flavour and long, blanched white stems topped with lush green foliage. A staple in kitchen gardens, leeks are ideal for soups, stews, and roasting, offering a more delicate taste than traditional onions. They form upright, non-bulbing stems that gradually thicken as they mature, particularly when regularly mounded with soil to produce a longer, tender white shaft. Well-suited to Melbourne’s climate, leeks thrive in full sun and rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture. Best planted from autumn through winter, they develop slowly and are typically ready for harvest from late winter into spring. This crop is low maintenance, tolerant of cool temperatures, and highly productive, making it a reliable addition to any vegetable garden.

Form:
*Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:
*Height: 40–80 cm
*Width: 15–25 cm

Aspect:
*Full Sun

Flowering:
*Does not flower under Melbourne's weather conditions

Flower Colour:
*Not applicable

Key Attributes:
*Annual
*Cool Season Crop
*Edible Vegetable
*Low Maintenance
*Suitable for Pots
*Suitable for Vegetable Gardens

Toxicity:
Non-toxic to humans. Toxic to pets (dogs and cats) if ingested in large quantities, may cause gastrointestinal upset or more serious reactions.

Companion Plants:
*Carrot
*Celery
*Onion
*Spinach
*Lettuce
*Beetroot