How to Grow Your Own Organic Leeks
Leeks look a bit like giant onions, but they are far milder in flavour, and quite different botanically. Often used in England for leek and potato soup, they are also associated widely with our friends over the border in Wales.
Eaten for thousands of years (leeks are mentioned in the Bible’s Book of Numbers), some say there were a main part of the diet for labourers who built the Egyptian Pyramids. Roman Emperor Nero ate them so much (believing they would improve his singing voice – perhaps the Welsh knew too?) that his subjects called him ‘Porophagus’ (the leek eater!’) Hippocrates (the Greek ‘father of medicine’) even prescribed them for nosebeeds?
Unlike their cousins onions and garlic, leeks have no ‘bulb’ (the long white cylinder you chop up is a tightly packed bundle of leaf sheaths, rather than a stem). Very winter-hardy, they can remain buried in snow until spring harvesting. And while we associate leeks as a traditional European vegetable, the world’s largest producer is actually Indonesia.
What you need to grow organic leeks
Now here’s a vegetable that likes the English weather! Our cool damp climate is ideal for them. Leeks are outdoors in March to April in temporary seedbeds, then transplanted in summer, ready for harvesting by autumn or the following spring.
They like fertile well-draining soil with a PH above 6. Organic gardening will take care of leek moth and allium leaf miners, by attracting birds, bats and ladybirds etc. Leaving 15 to 20cm of space between plants can help prevent leek rust (if you see any, just cut away infected leaves). Hand-weed any weeds each week, to keep soil clear.
Gently pile earth up around the base stem every few weeks, to keep leeks healthy in snow.
- Read up on pet-friendly gardens for plants and mulches (like cocoa) to avoid
- Use humane non-toxic methods to deter slugs/snails
- For indoor plants and greenhouses, use Feather Friendly bird tape to stop birds flying into windows (avoid facing indoor plants to face gardens).
Where to buy sustainable leeks
If you can’t find sustainable leek seeds locally, you can buy from Tamar Organics, Vital Seeds or Rocket Gardens.
Ways to eat fresh organic leeks
Leeks should be avoided for people with allium allergies and IBS (and other gasto conditions).
Keep leeks (or any foods containing them) away from pets. All alliums (including leeks, onion, garlic, shallots and chives) are toxic to all animal friends (cats and Japanese dog breeds are especially sensitive).
Leek and potato soup:
Fry two sliced leeks and two chopped medium potatoes in vegan Flora butter for 10 minutes, then pour in 1 litre of good veggie stock. Simmer until potatoes are soft then use a stick blender to turn into a soup. Stir in a splash of vegean crema or plant milk before serving.
Vegan buttered leeks
Fry sliced leeks (in rings) in a generous knob of melted vegan Flora butter in a pan on medium heat. Add a spinch of salt and splash of water, and cover for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and fry for 3 more minutes.
Vegan leek and bacon pasta sauce
Fry chopped vegan bacon in a pan until crisp. Add sliced leeks and cook until soft. Stir in some vegan crème fraîche or double cream, toss in plastic-free pasta (!) and top with vegan cheese and black pepper.
