How to plant leeks in open ground. Leeks - planting seedlings from seeds. Leeks or pearl onions

Increasingly, gardeners in our country have begun to grow crops such as leeks on their plots. The popularity of this plant is based on the fact that its stem has a pleasant taste and can be used as a seasoning for various dishes. Growing this type of onion is not very difficult, however, there are some nuances that this article will tell you about.

Landing dates

Growing leeks always begins with determining the timing of planting planting material. The time to sow depends on the growing method. The most optimal planting method of this plant is the cultivation of seedlings and their further planting in open ground. In this regard, the answer to the question “when should you sow seeds” depends on the type of onion. Sowing of seeds is usually carried out 65-75 days before planting the grown seedlings in a permanent place of growth. Wherein optimal timing for planting leeks for seedlings will be on March 20-25. Although you can find data that sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out at the end of February. Grown seedlings can be planted in open ground in early or mid-May.

Compliance with the correct planting dates will allow you to obtain the highest quality and tastiest harvest.

Preparation of soil and planting material

In addition to determining the timing of planting leeks, you also need to properly prepare both the beds and the seedlings themselves. The soil for growing this crop must be neutral. In order to reduce acidity in the soil, dolomite can be added to it in the fall. When the soil has an alkaline pH, add a little peat in the fall. It is also recommended to fertilize the soil during this period to increase its physical characteristics and fertility. To do this, you can add rotted manure and compost to the soil. 6-8 kg of fertilizer should be applied per square meter of area.

In addition, you need to know that the best predecessors for leeks are pumpkin and legumes, as well as potatoes.

When the soil has been prepared, you can begin preparing planting material. Most often, leeks are grown using the seedling method. Therefore, in order to obtain high-quality and healthy seedlings some time after planting the seeds, it is necessary to properly prepare the seed. If everything is done correctly, the seeds will retain their germination capacity for 3 years. This means that their sowing can be carried out during this time.

You need to start preparing planting material for planting, as we previously found out, in mid-March. Important points in preparing seeds will be their dressing and disinfection. Before sending seeds for sowing, the following manipulations are carried out with them:

After the above-described manipulations, the planting material can be sown to obtain seedlings. But besides this method preparing seeds, there are other methods. For example, steps to prepare planting material may look like this:

Pour hot (about 40 degrees) and cold water into two deep bowls;
First we put the seeds in a bowl of hot water, and after 20 minutes we take them out and transfer them to cold water;
Next we germinate the planting material. To do this, place the seeds in a wet cloth or napkin. The fabric should be moistened with water at a temperature of + 23 degrees;
After three days, remove the seeds and dry them.

Now you can sow the planting material into the ground.

In this way you can prepare seeds that you have collected yourself from land plot. Planting material purchased in a store does not need to be etched. But it definitely needs to be germinated.

Video “Leeks: growing from sowing to harvesting”

In the video you can learn how to grow leeks and how to care for them from sowing to harvesting.

Sowing technology

Leeks have a fairly long growing season, lasting 200 days. Therefore, to obtain a high-quality harvest, you need to grow seedlings, and only then replant them in open ground.

Sowing seeds can be done either in individual cups or in special boxes. Sowing is carried out as follows:

When the first shoots appear, thinning is carried out. After the seedlings have become stronger, picking is not carried out for them. This is due to the fact that young shoots may die from picking. In order to increase the survival rate of leek seedlings in a permanent place of growth, its roots need to be cut by a third. They are then dipped into a clay mash.

Leeks can be planted in open ground approximately 50 days (beginning of May) after sowing the planting material. Before planting directly, the beds are fertilized with compost. You can also add 2 liter jars of moistened sawdust and a half-liter jar of ash. In addition, it is necessary to add urea. After this, we dig up the area to a depth of about 20 cm and form furrows. There should be a distance of 25 cm between the rows. It is believed that leeks are best grown in narrowed beds.

Seedlings should be planted at a minimum depth of 10 cm. Experts recommend planting leeks in separate holes or furrows 15 cm deep. Manure or rotted compost should be placed at the bottom of them.

After planting, the seedlings form a kind of ring around themselves, which is recessed in the plane of the bed. It protects young onions from adverse factors environment, and also facilitates the flow of nutrients and water to the roots of plants.

Features of cultivation

To obtain an excellent harvest of this crop, it is necessary to adhere to all stages of cultivation. A particularly important step in this situation will be the preparation of seeds, which must undergo treatment and disinfection.

To increase the germination of planting material, a thin layer of snow can be placed on the ground before sowing it. Its thickness should not exceed 2 cm. The snow must be pressed to the ground using a paint roller. After this, sowing should be carried out very quickly. Then, after the snow has been absorbed into the soil, it is recommended to sprinkle the top of the beds with a thin layer (no more than 1 cm) of dry soil. Then the seedlings are planted according to the usual pattern.

After planting seedlings in open ground, to save space, leeks can be grown between the beds onion, beets, as well as carrots, celery or strawberries.

Winter (late) varieties of this onion are recommended to be grown in a greenhouse. This is due to the fact that they have a fairly long growing season. In this regard, when grown in open ground, they do not have time to fully complete their growth. If such varieties were nevertheless planted in open ground, then with the onset of cold weather the plants are transplanted into boxes and placed in warm room. This transplantation is carried out in the fall before the onset of frost.

Since leeks are considered a cold-resistant plant, adult plants (early and medium varieties) can withstand frosts of -5...-7°C. Therefore, in areas with a mild climate, they can even winter in the open ground under snow cover.

Rules of care

In order not to ruin the planted leek seedlings, it is necessary to proper care which involves performing the following actions:

loosening and mulching the soil;
weeding beds and removing weeds;
hilling up plantings;
timely watering;
application of fertilizers.

In addition, when the seedlings reach the diameter of a pencil, soil should be poured into the holes. After this, hilling is done every 2 weeks. Such manipulations will allow you to get a perfectly white stem. In one season you need to carry out at least four hillings. In this case, it is best to hill up the plantings during watering.

Abundant and regular watering, as well as fertilizing the soil, is carried out at the beginning of the growing season (first half). It is worth adding mullein and bird droppings as fertilizing. They are used in dissolved form in a ratio of 1:8 and 1:20, respectively.

If the care of the plantings was correct, the leek stem will reach a length of 50 cm and a thickness of 3-4 cm.

Please note that rainy and cold summers affect appearance Luke. In such a situation, its stem will be thin and short. Even high-quality and proper care will not always help to change this.

Although growing leeks can be a bit of a hassle, this crop is a great addition to your garden.

Every year, gardeners discover new crops, but even well-known vegetables can become a real discovery. Leeks - a pleasant surprise for fans healthy eating. It is not often found in areas, most likely due to a lack of information. Unfair information about the plant’s finickiness is widespread, which discourages even trying to grow this wonderful vegetable. It is mainly purchased ready-made, despite the high price of the product. In this article we will get acquainted with this plant and consider in detail the process of growing seedlings at home.

How are leeks different?

Leeks (pearl onions) are a perennial plant. His life cycle from germination to seed ripening is 2 years. In the first season, a rosette of leaves and a false stem are formed - it is for the sake of the bleached “leg” that this variety of onion is grown, it can be eaten at any stage of development.

The leaf blades are flat, reach a length of up to 80 cm, their width is about 6 cm. They are painted in various shades of green and covered with a waxy coating. Bottom part has a tubular shape, these tubes close together to form a juicy “leg”. Depending on the variety, the length of the tube is 10-60 cm, the diameter is 2-6 cm.

The root system of the plant is powerful, but does not form the bulbs we are accustomed to. If you leave the rhizomes in the soil after harvesting, they will become a good fertilizer for the soil.

In the second year of life, the plant produces a peduncle. Gardeners usually do not grow leeks for seeds, because seed material is available for free sale; you can choose the most productive hybrids and varieties. Seeds remain viable for 3 years.

What are the benefits of leeks?

Onion “legs” can be stored for about 6 months, so you will have fresh greens almost all winter.

Leek contains many elements that are beneficial for the human body: a complex essential oils and vitamins, mineral salts, fiber, proteins. Leeks become an ingredient in various dishes and preparations. It is recommended to include it in the diet of people suffering from joint diseases and problematic metabolism. A large number of essential oils contained in the plant can cause irritation of the mucous membrane digestive tract, therefore, they are not recommended for consumption by people with gastritis and acute ulcerative manifestations.

Growing leeks through seedlings

Leek has a long growing season of 6-7 months. In the conditions of the middle zone, when sowing seeds directly into open ground, you may not wait for the harvest. When to plant leek seedlings is determined by many factors.

Select the sowing time in accordance with the desired harvest date.

Timing for sowing leeks for seedlings

To harvest in early autumn, sow seeds for seedlings in late February-early March. In this case, by the beginning of April, the seedlings will be ready to be transplanted to grow in a greenhouse.
Sow at the end of March to plant seedlings in open ground.

You should also focus on the climatic conditions of your region - it depends on most of success.

In northern climates, start sowing seeds for seedlings in April-May, and transplanting into open ground will be possible in June.
In the middle zone, sow leeks for seedlings in February, then transplanting into a greenhouse is possible by mid-April, into open ground - at the end of May.

To guarantee a harvest, you should choose early-ripening varieties for sowing seedlings. It is most reliable to purchase seed material at specialized sales points. The packaging indicates the cultivation technology - read it to be sure of your ability to provide the required conditions.

Soil preparation

The soil needs to be nutritious and loose. Mix turf soil, compost, humus, and peat in equal proportions. It can be grown in peat, but for 5 kg of soil add: 250 g of dolomite flour, 50 g of superphosphate, 30 g of urea, 40 g of potassium sulfate.

Seedlings do not tolerate intermediate transplantation well, so sow the seeds in separate pots or in spacious boxes; cassette containers with cells are ideal. The depth of the container should be at least 10-12 cm.

Treat the container for planting with a strong solution of potassium permanganate and dry.

Seed preparation

Seeds need pre-treatment:

Soak for about 30 minutes in a soft pink solution of potassium permanganate at a warm temperature
Then keep it in cold water for 30 minutes.
Place in a damp cloth and keep in this state for about a week, the seeds should not hatch
Dry the seeds until they flow, proceed to sowing

How to plant leek seeds for seedlings

Fill the container with soil, compact it lightly, and water.
When sowing in a box, maintain a distance of about 5 cm between the seeds and the rows.
When sowing in separate containers, place 2-3 seeds in each. The depth of seed placement is no more than 1-1.5 cm.
Cover the crops with film, place them in a place with diffused bright lighting, and maintain the air temperature between 22-25 °C.
Ventilate the crops, get rid of condensation, and moisten the soil.
The first shoots will appear in 10-15 days.
When sprouts appear, the cover should be removed.
Maintain the air temperature at 17 °C during the day and 12 °C at night - this must be done throughout the week so that the sprouts do not stretch.
Then increase the daytime reading to 20°C, and the nighttime reading to 14°C.
Water as the top layer of soil dries out. Overwatering can cause seedlings to suffer from blackleg. The water should be warm.

Seedling care

It should be fed a couple of times: after 2 weeks of growth and 1 week before the intended transplant into open ground. Water with a weak compost solution (ratio 1 to 10). You can use mineral fertilizers.

In order for the roots to develop well and the stem to thicken, the leaves should be trimmed. Trim every 2 weeks, leaving the leaves 8-10 cm long.

Ventilate the room, but avoid drafts.

A week before transplanting into open ground, begin to harden the seedlings: take them outside during the daytime.

Planting leeks for seedlings in a snail, picking, pruning and planting seedlings in the ground on video:

Leeks from seeds large quantities, if there is very little space on the windowsill? Use the method of sowing seeds in a snail, a very simple and economical way to grow any seedlings, but with the need for picking. For more details on the process of sowing, caring for and planting seedlings, watch the video above.

Planting leek seedlings in open ground

It is advisable to apply organic fertilizers when digging the site in the fall.
The soil needs to be loose, light, neutral or slightly acidic.
The lighting is bright, without shadows.
Desirable predecessors on the site are cucumbers, cabbage, legumes, and potatoes.
Dig up the area and level it.

Make furrows 15 cm deep, maintain a distance between rows of about 20 cm. Add wood ash.
Water the furrows and sprinkle a layer of soil on top.
Cut the leaves by 1/3, place them in furrows at a distance of 10 cm, carefully sprinkle with soil, and water.
Mulch the area with humus.

How to care for leeks in open ground

As soon as the stem reaches a diameter of 1 cm, the leek should be hilled - this helps strengthen the root system and further successful development of the valuable “leg”.

Water every 4-6 days. If there is a severe drought, water more frequently. Can be watered cold water. Add about 10 liters of water per 1 m².

Regularly loosen the soil and weed away weeds.

3 weeks after planting, feed with organic matter. Then apply complex mineral fertilizers every 2-3 weeks. Apply mostly nitrogen in the spring, and phosphorus and potassium in the summer.

Sowing leek seeds in open ground

You can immediately go into open ground in the spring, when the soil has warmed up by at least 2 °C - you will receive products for autumn consumption and winter storage.

If you sow the seeds in the summer (including July), before the onset of cold weather, a stem 7 mm - 1.5 cm thick with 4-6 leaves will form. This is only relevant for regions with warm climates. For successful wintering it is necessary to hill up the plants. The harvest will be possible in May-June.

Pre-treat the seeds as described earlier.
Sow in rows, keeping a distance of about 10 cm between them. Deepen the seeds by about 1 cm.
Fragile seedlings will require shading from direct sunlight.

You can sow leeks before winter (in November). Keep a distance of about 20 cm between rows, 10 cm between individual plants. Mulch the plantings with peat. If a snowless winter is expected, additionally cover with spruce branches.

Harvesting

Pre-moisten the soil. Dig up and pull out the onion, holding the stem with both hands. Trim the roots to a length of 1.5-2.5 cm - do not cut them off completely, otherwise the onions will rot during storage. Trim the top, leaving the whitish part of the false stem and the length of the leaves about 10 cm. Store at an air temperature of 0 ° C - this way the onion will successfully last until spring.

Diseases and pests of leeks

Use high-quality seed for sowing, pre-treat it before sowing, follow agricultural planting techniques, provide proper care - then diseases and pests are not scary.

Possible plant diseases:

Mosaic - leaf plates are covered with yellow spots.
False powdery mildew– whitish spots with plaque appear on the leaves, the vegetable becomes unfit for consumption.
Rust - bright spots appear on the leaves yellow color, over time they dry out.

Remove affected plants from the garden immediately. Treat the plantings with a fungicide.

If there are midges in leek seedlings

The onion fly is a dangerous pest that can cause significant damage to the crop or even destroy it completely. For preventative purposes, pollinate the beds with tobacco and wood ash. You can spill it with tobacco solution (200 g of tobacco dust and 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per 10 liters of water, leave for about 5 hours, strain, proceed to processing).

A good insecticide against onion fly is Lambda-cyhalothrin, waiting period is 30-40 days. Therefore, greens should not be eaten for 40 days after treatment. Treatment is carried out by spraying on the leaves.

Leek varieties

Leek varieties are divided according to ripening time.

1. Early ripening (summer)

Harvest can be done in August.

They have stupa-shaped stems, the leaves are colored light green, are located at an acute angle to the stem, and the leaf rosette is looser.

Winter sowing and seedless cultivation are possible; they are suitable for growing in the Moscow region and any region of Russia. The Bulgarian giant is an example of a summer variety.

2. Mid-season (autumn)

Harvesting occurs in the first ten days of October. In regions with mild climates they are able to winter in open ground.

Stems cylindrical, thickened. The leaf blades are denser, more powerful, and colored dark green, gray-green. Varieties: Bluewing, Karantansky.

3. Late ripening (winter)

Cold resistance is increased, in regions with warm winters The harvest can be harvested from October to April.

The “leg” is shorter, thicker at the bottom. The arrangement of the leaf plates is fan-shaped, they are covered with a bluish-green coating.

Leeks are an indispensable part of many dishes, the powerful master of our vegetable gardens and greenhouses. This plant is rich in vitamins and useful material, the agricultural technology of its cultivation is extremely simple. What is the principle of sowing? The seeds are pre-soaked in water for about thirty minutes, after which they are left on a damp cloth for two to three days. This method is suitable both for planting seedlings and for planting seeds in the soil itself in the beds. Agree, it’s simple and accessible to everyone.

Leeks are rich in vitamins and nutrients.

It is better to take seeds that have been sitting for two to three years; planting agricultural technology here must be strictly observed. When growing seedlings, special attention should be paid to pests and diseases to which onions are susceptible.

Planting leeks for seedlings

Leeks are propagated in two ways: successful cultivation from seeds or using seedlings is possible. In this case, the sowing method depends on where exactly the onion will be grown. So, for the southern regions, planting from seeds is also excellent, but for the northern and central regions the use of seedlings is recommended.

Planting onions is done in this way:

seeds are planted in seedling boxes in February (you can place them on windowsills);
Growing seedlings from seeds begins in mid-April (for glass greenhouses), at the end of April (for beds under film).

The depth of each groove in boxes for seedlings of leek seeds should be up to 2 cm. It is recommended to pre-fertilize the soil for onions.

Growing from seeds is carried out using the following technology:

The prepared soil is moistened, the distance between the rows should be 5 cm.
The depth of each groove in the seedling boxes should be 1-1.5 cm.
Seeds (it is better to take seeds that have been sitting for 2 years, even for seedlings) are sown in the soil, the box is covered with film and placed in a well-lit place at a temperature of +22-25°C.
When the first shoots appear, the film can be removed, the temperature drops to 20° during the day, and to 14° at night.
After a month, the seedlings need to be thinned out; the seedlings should be planted in pots with a diameter of up to 4 cm. Planting the seedlings in the ground begins in May; before this, it is recommended to shorten the roots and leaves of the prepared seedlings by about 1/3. To ensure excellent seedling survival, it is recommended to dip the roots in a mixture of mullein and clay in equal proportions. Growing from seeds is organized a little differently. It is recommended to pre-fertilize the soil for onions. It’s great if garlic, onions, carrots and cucumbers grew on it before. Growing from seeds itself is simple; the planting scheme is as follows:

the planting depth of each seed is up to 2 cm (for seedlings this value increases slightly);
diagram – 15x25 cm.

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When to plant leek seedlings in open ground

Indicators of the ability of leeks to safely transfer transplantation into open ground, except climatic conditions, will become:

the condition of the above-ground part of its stem and root system;
readiness of the soil and beds.

Seedlings that are guaranteed to take root in outdoor conditions must have at least 3 true leaves. The roots should be no longer than 4 cm and treated with a mixture of clay, manure and water. For such a creamy mash, all components are mixed in equal quantities. Before directly planting in the beds, the onion root system is lowered into it for a few seconds.

The soil for onions must be prepared in the fall, it is enriched with humus, and, if necessary, deoxidized. This is due to the fact that leeks increase their leaf mass before the cold weather. Therefore, in order to maintain a constant ability for vegetation, increased demands are placed on soil fertility and its nitrogen-potassium enrichment.

In order for the delicious white part of the plant - the so-called false stem - to have sufficient thickness, and it can grow up to 6 cm, and length (from 10 to 60 cm), regular watering and constant hilling are necessary. It will be easier to increase the layer of soil under the onion root if the seedlings are planted in deep furrows with high earthen sides. When watering the beds, they wash the soil towards the plant, thereby gradually increasing the height of the soil layer under the leek. In addition, they use traditional ways hilling.

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Rules of care: secrets of experienced gardeners

The agricultural technology for growing leeks is quite simple, but it still needs to be followed exactly so that the plant becomes strong, healthy and tasty. The most careful care is necessary at the beginning, immediately after planting, then things will go much easier.

First and foremost important rule- carefully monitor that there are no weeds in the beds. Get into the habit of not only watering, but also checking the beds, removing all the weeds that appear on them.

The soil must be kept moist and not allowed to dry out, but you should not create a swamp either.

During the season, it is necessary to hill up the plants two to four times to get a long, white leg, after each hilling, the leek, or rather the soil around it, is mulched with chopped straw, dry crumbly manure, mowed and slightly dried grass.

Onions do not tolerate fertilizers containing nitrogen, so you should be careful when choosing fertilizer.

Leeks have one distinctive feature: its growth does not slow down, it can grow even when put in the basement for the winter. Therefore, it is necessary to provide him with constant feeding. It is recommended to start doing this after the plant reaches 15-20 cm and has four to five leaves.

Agricultural technology allows you to use the following composition: take 1 liter of mullein for 10 liters of ordinary water. The resulting solution is watered between the rows, and then the soil along each bed. You can’t pour liquid on plants; onions don’t tolerate it very well. But this composition is suitable for poor soils; if the soil was previously well fertilized before planting, then you can get by with watering using infusions of freshly cut herbs such as nettle.

Attention! When feeding leeks, do not use fertilizers with a high nitrogen content, as the onions can simply rot, especially if they are stored in the cellar for a long time!

Proper agricultural technology is very strict when it comes to watering plants. Onions require abundant watering, especially at a time when there is an intensive growth of green foliage (which occurs in June) and during the formation of a false bulb (in July). The soil in the beds should always be moist, but not wet or dry, this must be monitored.

Leeks are harvested in late autumn, but if the winter is not too cold, then you can leave the plants on the ground; onions are quite winter-hardy. In the middle zone, it is recommended to sprinkle it with pine spruce branches, straw, and light peat. In the spring, it begins to actively grow, at a time when the rest of the greenery has not even been planted yet.

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Diseases and pests of leeks

When growing leeks, problems such as onion fly, black mold, fusarium, neck rot, onion rust, and downy mildew are possible. Let's take a closer look at what lesions and pests can harm plantings:

Mosaic is viral disease leeks, which are carried by common aphids. At the same time, yellow and longitudinal spots appear on the leaves, and the onion stops growing. There are no measures to combat this disease; all affected plants are destroyed. Only preventive measures can be taken against aphids and mites. It is also recommended to grow from seeds that have already been sitting for 2-3 years, during which time the virus has time to completely die.
Downy mildew appears as oval, fast-growing, whitish spots. Leeks that are affected by this disease become inedible; all affected plants must be removed; those remaining in the beds are recommended to be sprayed with a solution of phytosporin and copper oxychloride. An excellent preventive measure against this disease is proper agricultural technology.
Leaf rust manifests itself in this way: on the foliage you can see clearly visible bright yellow pads, which are clusters of fungal spores. These pads gradually mature, become dark, and then turn black. All leaves that are infected begin to dry out. Affected plants must be immediately removed from the garden bed and destroyed so that fungal spores do not spread to neighboring plants in the garden.
Of the pests, leeks are most often affected by the onion fly, which eats the leaves, leaving large light passages in them. Fly larvae also cause a lot of trouble; they severely damage the underground part of the plant. As a result, if no measures are taken in time, the onion will simply die. To repel flies, it is recommended to grow carrots nearby; the insect strongly dislikes its specific smell. The onions themselves must be watered with the following solution: take one full glass of table salt per 10 liters of water, after which the beds are watered at the root. It is recommended to sprinkle the soil itself with ground carrot or pepper seeds (a full teaspoon per 1 sq.m.), wood ash (100 g/sq.m. each).

The taste of many salads would not be as subtle without such an ingredient as leek. Thanks to its excellent gastronomic qualities and rich vitamin composition, the plant is grown by many gardeners. An annual crop native to the Mediterranean, it has unusual greenish-blue feathers with a characteristic aroma. The lack of pungency and sweetish taste elevate the variety to the category of aromatic spices.

Due to the long growing season (about six months) and the climate characteristics of central Russia, it is better to grow leeks using seedlings. It is being sown in the second half of February or early March into prepared boxes, pots or cups.

To obtain seedlings, watering and temperature conditions must be observed. If you sow seeds in open ground, you may not get a harvest due to the death of the plant due to frost and snow (the danger of freezing exists in both spring and autumn). Some gardeners practice growing leeks to produce greens, which are harvested in July.

One way to plant onions involves sowing seeds in late autumn (usually in November). It is important to ensure that the weather forecasts are not warm, this will provoke rapid shoots.

Sowing in beds can be done in greenhouse conditions or using growing technology under agrofibre.

Planting seeds for growing seedlings at home

Proper preparation of soil and seed material

Used to plant seeds a mixture of turf and compost soil with the addition of humus. Leeks love nutritious and light soil; in a dense substrate, the seeds may not sprout.

When using a peat base, you should not forget to feed it with any additives:

dolomite flour;
urea;
double superphosphate;
potassium sulfate.

Spring sowing is usually done in March to produce onions by September. The timing and pattern of planting and sowing can be adjusted depending on the time of harvest.

How to plant seeds

Before planting, seeds soaking at home in water room temperature And kept for a day, and then dried.

Another preparation option involves keeping the seeds in a thermos with water (40 degrees) for 2-4 hours followed by rinsing under a cool shower and drying. Boxes 35 x 50 cm are used as containers.

The consumption of seed material for such a container is 2-3 grams. After filling the container, the soil surface is covered with a 3-5 mm layer of sand and moistened.

Before the shoots appear, the box must be covered with glass or film to create a greenhouse effect.

To obtain good germination of planting, it is necessary to create favorable conditions. Among the main ones:

correct temperature within 22 degrees before emergence;
temperature adjustment after emergence (in the daytime up to 18-20 degrees, at night up to 8-14 degrees);
carry out watering heated water;
provide good lighting for photosynthesis.

Picking and hardening

It is better to grow crop seedlings without picking, there is no need to plant them in separate containers. The seedlings will be ready for planting in open ground after reaching the age of 2-2.5 months.

For 6-7 weeks after the shoots appear, seedlings need harden. To do this, boxes or pots should be taken outside and left in partial shade for several hours, gradually increasing the time spent in the air. In strong winds, aerial procedures are not recommended.

Planting onion seedlings in open ground

Seedlings are planted in open ground in the first half of May, for example, this applies to the Moscow region. Before the important stage, it is necessary to thoroughly moisten the soil so as not to damage the root system of the plant. It is better to do the work in the evening or in cloudy weather. Active sun can destroy young shoots.

The bed for leeks is chosen according to open areas so that it can grow with maximum light access. It is not recommended to plant the crop close to bushes and trees.

The soil for planting must be neutral reaction, quite loose. If the soil is acidified, it must first be limed.

It is advisable to start preparing the beds in the fall. To do this, the area is dug up and cleared of roots and weeds, after which processed with Nitrophoska(2 tbsp per 1 m2). In early spring the beds are enriched with humus and compost without additional digging of the earth.

When the seedlings are ready to be transplanted, furrows are prepared in the selected area. Their depth is 10-15 cm, interval – 25-30 cm. A distance of 10-20 cm is maintained between shoots, depending on the variety.

Before being immersed in the ground, each root is treated with a special mash, which is prepared from clay, manure and water (all components are taken in equal proportions). Sprouts too long shortened to 4 cm. The seedlings are sprinkled with soil in small quantities. Replanting work ends with abundant watering.

Leek care after transplantation

Leeks are not very demanding to care for, but it will take some effort to get a harvest. To grow a good harvest that will not be afraid of transportation and will grow healthy, you need to care for it properly.

Care includes:

regular watering;
weeding;
hilling (3-4 times during the growing season);
bait;
loosening;
treatment against diseases and pests.

After transplanting the seedlings for three days the plant is not watered.

Leeks are fed during the season 3-4 times. The plant responds well to organic fertilizers: mullein, compost, bird droppings. Mineral complexes rich in potassium, phosphorus and other micro and macroelements are also suitable. It is recommended to combine each hilling with the introduction of ash.

Once every 2 weeks you need to loosen the soil around the shoots until the stem becomes as thick as a pencil. Further, the procedures become more frequent and expand into the furrow zone to saturate the soil with oxygen and prevent soil compaction.

Harvesting and storage

You can collect onions until late autumn, but it is better to do this before frost and the first snow falls.

The plant should be cleaned of damaged and dried leaves, remove the top of the feathers(about 1/3 of the length), trim at the root part by 1 cm.

The harvest is well preserved in the refrigerator, wrapped in cling film. Before packaging, the stems need to be cooled so that condensation does not form under the polyethylene. Basements, cellars or pits with temperature conditions no higher than 2-5 degrees.

For preparations for the winter, leeks are placed in the freezer. After defrosting, it retains its properties and is quite suitable for consumption.

Growing leeks on your own land is very simple. 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 the crop and follow agricultural technology, a positive result will be guaranteed.

Leeks grow and bear fruit well in regions with warm and temperate climates. This is a plant with a long growing season. Depending on the variety, onions of this type ripen 130-200 days after the shoots appear. But you can eat the vegetable earlier, selectively digging out the largest specimens. Adult leek plants can withstand low temperatures and even frost. The growth of young bulbs in the first months is slow; they are demanding of heat and light.

Leeks are grown in open ground. 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 produce a full harvest.

In the middle zone and, especially in Siberia, leeks are cultivated only by seedlings. For example, in Leningrad region plants develop well when planted in greenhouses and greenhouses around the beginning - mid-April. In the north, seeds are sown early to obtain seedlings. This is usually done at the end of February - beginning of March. Grown indoors. Young onions are transplanted into the beds when they reach 50-60 days, from the beginning to mid-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 growing season of plants to a more favorable period. In areas with short and cold summers this is of great importance. As practice shows, leeks planted with seeds in the ground simply do not have time to ripen in such conditions. The gardener has to harvest the crops ahead of schedule. As a result, the storage period of the vegetable is greatly reduced. The seedling leek ripens completely.

Selecting a variety and preparing seeds 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 you need to pay attention to is the timing of crop maturation. All varieties of leeks can be divided into early, middle and late.

Early ripening leek is also called summer leek. 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. Typically, such onions are used immediately for cooking or frozen for future use. It has a delicate, pleasant taste. Early ripening varieties can be grown without restrictions in any region. The most famous among gardeners include:

Vesta;
Goliath;
Elephant's trunk;
Columbus;
Kilima.

Mid-season varieties need 150-180 days to ripen. They are more typical dark color leaf, large stalk, often with a pronounced bulb, high resistance to infectious diseases. This leek is harvested in the fall, in September or October, stored for several months, used fresh or canned. Mid-season varieties grow well in the south, middle zone and north. The following varieties have proven themselves well in garden beds:

Tango;
Jolite;
Kamus;
Bastion.

Late-ripening varieties are winter. They are intended for long-term storage, have a short, dense stem, and ripen 6 months after germination or more. Are different big amount vitamins and minerals, tolerate low temperatures and even slight frosts. You can distinguish them in the beds by their dark-colored leaves with a waxy coating, which often have a spreading shape. The varieties most famous to gardeners include:

Carentan leek;
Mercury;
Autumn Giant;
Bandit;
Elephant;
Asgeos.

They are grown only in areas with long summers and harvested just before frost.

Pre-sowing preparation of leek seeds in the spring before planting is not always carried out. If you buy a bag in a store, its contents do not need additional processing. Such seeds are already treated with fungicides and have good germination. They can be sown dry, especially in open ground. They may sprout a few days later, but they won’t die if it gets cold outside.

For growing in a greenhouse and at home, 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. Next, they are dried a little and embedded in the ground.

Sowing leeks for seedlings

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

To grow leeks through seedlings, use light, loose, moisture-intensive soil mixtures that are rich in humus and other nutrients. You can prepare them yourself or buy ready-made soil mixture for vegetables in stores. Leek seedlings also grow well in special peat mixtures.

To plant seeds, containers are filled with soil and moistened well. In boxes, plants are placed at intervals of 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 lay them out on the ground and sprinkle a layer of earth on top. Next, the containers are covered with film to retain 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. When sowing seeds early, additional illumination is carried out with lamps. For active growth, leeks need 10-12 hours of lighting.

Onion seedlings need regular watering with warm water, but irrigation should be moderate. It is carried out as the upper layers of the soil dry out. Excessive watering leads to rot and onion stretching, especially if it does not have enough light and is too warm.

During the entire growing period, leeks are 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 microelements, saltpeter or organic matter. At this time, plants mainly need nitrogen to grow green mass.

1-1.5 weeks before the upcoming planting, leek seedlings begin to harden. Gradually, the 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 in the beds.

Selecting a location and preparing the bed

To grow large leeks 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 area for leeks is chosen so that it is away from blind fences, trees, buildings and tall neighboring plants.

It is good to plant this type of onion after cabbage, potatoes, legumes, cucumbers or tomatoes. These crops are considered the best predecessors of leek, after which it grows well and produces high yields. You cannot plant it in a garden bed where there were previously garlic and onions, regardless of its variety. These plants have common pests and diseases. And they remove the same nutrients from the soil.

Leeks prefer to grow on fertile, moisture-absorbing soils, preferably on light loams with soil acidity close to neutral. Before digging, the beds must be filled with organic matter. Leeks respond well to fertilizing with the following composition: 10-15 kg of humus, as well as phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, are taken per 1 m2 of area. This can be ash (2 cups) or superphosphate and potassium sulfate at the full rate.

If there is a lack of organic matter, it can be added in the spring by spreading compost or humus on the beds before planting. It is not necessary to dig up the soil. The only exceptions are viscous floating soils.

Planting seedlings in open ground

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

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

Before planting, the roots of seedlings are shortened by a third of their length. Sometimes the tip of the feathers is also trimmed. The seedlings are planted at the bottom of the furrow (hole). They are buried another 5-7 cm into the ground. A distance of 10 to 25 cm is maintained between leeks in a row. Late varieties of leeks and those with spreading leaves are planted less frequently. The earth around the stems is compacted a little 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 with film to protect them from frost. Remove it only when stable warmth arrives.

Leek care

Agricultural technology for leeks is not particularly difficult. Throughout the growing season, the beds are kept free of weeds, and the soil is often loosened between the rows. As the plants grow, they are hilled up. They do this several times a season. First, add soil to the furrows, then form ridges near the stems. Thus, by the end of growing the leeks, large bleached legs are obtained.

During the growth period, plants need watering. In the southern regions, irrigation is carried out regularly, approximately once every 5-7 days, increasing the rate by the time the stem thickens, which is observed in the middle of the growing season. In the northern regions, plants are watered less frequently; leeks do not like excess moisture at the roots.

Fertilizers provide a good increase in yield. Leeks 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, fertilizing with liquid mullein, a solution of bird droppings and ash will perfectly satisfy the plants’ need for these elements.

The leek is fertilized for the first time 2-3 weeks after planting. Organic fertilizer is applied between rows, not in furrows. The ash is simply mixed with the soil during hilling. Use 1 glass for every m2. Mineral fertilizers used include ammonium or potassium nitrate and potassium sulfate. Leeks are fed 3-4 times during the entire growing season. If plants grow and develop normally, they are fed less frequently. On fertile soils, 2 feedings are sufficient. A strong use of nitrogen fertilizers can lead to a decrease in the shelf life of the product after harvesting.

Expert opinion

Maria Vlasova

Gardener

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Any gardener can grow leeks in his own beds. Just prepare a garden bed in the fall and buy seeds. And experience will quickly come with practice.