Healthy leeks: the secrets of growing and storing

Leeks are a delicious and vitamin-rich herb for two years. It gained its popularity due to its taste and unpretentious care. The homeland of leeks is Asia and the Mediterranean, and the Egyptians became the first people who began to cultivate this plant as the most important vegetable crop. Leeks are valued in Europe for their impressive amount of vitamins, they are added to mixtures of seasonings, they are used in cooking as an addition to main dishes, they are consumed fresh.

Botanical features

Leek plant is biennial. However, it is grown as an annual, since in the second year it blooms and loses its valuable qualities. The diameter of the white, slightly swollen bulb is about 2-7 cm. At the top, it turns into a false stem of light green color, forming long leaves that stick tightly to each other. The length of the stem may vary depending on the variety - from 10 to 75 cm, and its diameter - from 2 to 5 cm.

Each plant has 6-15 leaves, the length of which is 45-65 cm. The branching of the leaf blades from the stem is fan-shaped, resembling the opposite arrangement. The flat leaves of leeks from the central vein fold in half, have a waxy coating. The development of the flower arrow occurs only in the second year of growth.

Its height can reach a meter or more, and it bears an inflorescence in the form of a ball - an umbrella. In plants that are well developed, the umbrella is large enough. In diameter, it can reach 15-20 cm, and the number of small flowers in it, which are usually dark purple or lilac in color, up to 1000. Very often, the formation of air bulbs is observed in the inflorescences, which can be used for reproduction.

Brief characteristics of the plant

Leek (Allium ampeloprasum) is a biennial plant belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. In the first year, forms a root system, a shortened stem and long leaves. In the next growing season, the plant produces flowers and seeds. In vegetable gardens, as a rule, it is grown as an annual. This bow came to Europe from Asia Minor in the Middle Ages. Leek can be grown in all vegetable growing regions, in the Moscow region, the Leningrad region, Siberia, and the Urals.

The plant has a shortened stem and long green leaves. It is these two parts that are considered edible. The vegetable has a rather spicy, characteristic taste.

Beneficial features:

• has an antiseptic, that is, disinfectant and antibacterial effect;
• supports digestion;
• lowers blood sugar;
• thanks to the easily absorbed iron, it can be used in the treatment of anemia;
• acts on the respiratory system, enhances secretion (leek syrup);
• treats bad breath;
• leek is considered an aphrodisiac, good for men.

Unfortunately, the vegetable can cause bloating; it is not recommended to use it for people with peptic ulcer disease, stomach diseases, and pregnant women.

Leek has a high nutritional value and contains:

• a lot of iron;
• folic acid;
• niacin;
• riboflavin;
• vitamins - B, A, C, E, K.

Leeks are easy enough to grow. The growing season can be 70-170 days depending on the variety.

Growing technology

Many amateur gardeners are interested in the question today - how to grow leeks? This is done in two ways: seedling and seedless. The latter is used mainly in the southern regions, where the temperature indicators of air and soil make it possible for plants to normally form a root system.

The seedling method is used in the Far Eastern and Siberian regions, the middle lane, as well as in the northern regions, where there is not enough heat and light for the leek to fully ripen.

There are no special secrets of growing leeks with the seedless method. Planting leeks in the ground usually begins in the second half of May. You must first make the preparation of the beds. To do this, the soil must be fertilized with organic matter and covered with black plastic wrap in the fall. Sowing of disinfected and germinated seeds is carried out according to the scheme - 12-15x15-20cm. After sowing the seeds, the beds should be well watered and covered with foil or polycarbonate.

Seeds for seedlings should be sown in the second half of February. If you have a heated greenhouse, you can sow early varieties in late March or early April. For this procedure, it is good to use small boxes or cassettes filled with peat. The gap between the seeds should be at least 5 cm, and the distance between the rows should be 2 cm.

Until sprouts appear, moderate watering should be done every day. After four weeks, it is necessary to pick the seedlings. To do this, you can use pots, the diameter of which is about 5 cm. It is very important to adhere to the temperature regime and not to overheat the soil and air. The temperature should not exceed 20 degrees during the day, and 14 at night. Until the beginning of May, the seedlings should be supplemented with phytolamps.

We recommend reading the article on growing leeks from seeds in the southern regions.

How to plant seedlings?

Since this culture is not afraid of a possible drop in temperature, you can plant it on a plot in the garden at the beginning of May. Preparing for planting requires hardening the plants. For this, containers with seedlings are left in the open air, choosing for this a place without drafts and sufficiently illuminated by the sun's rays. The area where the leeks will be grown in the open field should be well lit.

Very good yields of this crop can be obtained on light loamy soils. The best time for planting is the period when the soil warms up to 8-10 ° C at a depth of 12-15 cm. When planting seedlings, it is to this depth that grooves are cut into which the plants are placed. At such a depth, it will be convenient to do the hilling of the grown sprouts. Before starting work, the leaves and root of each seedling plant should be shortened by a third.

Tip: To help the leek take root better, you can make a chatterbox from an equal amount of clay and mullein, and then dip the roots of the plants in it. Planting density - 23-30 plants per square meter.

The most common are two-row and multi-row landing patterns. With a two-row, the distance between seedlings is 25 cm, and between rows - 35 cm; when multi-row plants are planted every 15 cm, the row spacing is about 30 cm. At the end of the work, the furrows must be watered. It should be noted that intact plants with intact roots tend to take root well.

The space between the onion rows can be used rationally: for example, sowing, beets or carrots. In the event that the leek is too densely planted, you need to start thinning it in July. It is advisable to perform this work in a timely manner in order to avoid a thin false stem. Young greens left over after weeding can be useful in making salads.

Landing dates

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

Compliance with the correct planting dates will allow you to get the highest quality and most delicious harvest.

Care features

Agrotechnology for growing leeks consists of a set of activities, including:

1. Regular watering. It should be done at least three times a week. In order to moisten the soil 8-10 cm deep, watering should be abundant enough. This culture reacts very well to moisture during the first half of the growing season.
2. Top dressing, which is best done at the same time as watering twice a month. In order to provide plants with nutrition, you need to know how to feed leeks. You can use a remedy common among summer residents, which includes mullein or chicken droppings, which are diluted with water.
3. Hilling, which is recommended to be done at least 4 times in one season. The ideal option is 2 times a month. This operation increases the chances of growing a plant with a powerful white stem. Hilling is best done some time after watering.

Further care

Leek care rules:

1. The beds are watered with both warm and cold settled water (10 liters per 1 sq. M) every 4-5 days, increasing the number of irrigations in drought. Soil moisture is maintained constantly, preventing drying out and stagnation of water. At the beginning of plant growth, the soil is shed with water to a depth of 7-10 cm.
2. After rooting, the seedlings are hilled every two weeks to whiten the stems and improve the taste.
3. The soil is loosened after each watering. Weeds are harvested as they grow.
4. The beds are mulched with sawdust, hay or straw to reduce the amount of loosening and weeding.
5. Leek is fertilized with a solution of chicken manure with phosphorus and potassium: one part of manure, 20 parts of water, 35 parts of superphosphate.

Diseases and pests

The danger for leek is a viral mosaic. The disease does not manifest itself when growing seedlings and is not treated. The carrier of the virus is the melon aphid.

The first symptoms appear after the transfer of seedlings to a permanent place: yellowish spots of a longitudinal shape appear on the stems, the development of the plant stops.

Leeks often attack fungi that cause rust (bright yellow pads on greenery) and downy mildew (dry feather tips, white or white-gray greens). For treatment, a solution of copper oxychloride (40 g per 10 l) and "Fitosporin" (5 g per 10 l) are used.

Prevention of viral diseases:

• weeding of weeds;
• insect control;
• crop rotation;
• planting varieties that are resistant to viruses;
• disinfection of seed material before sowing;
• removal of infected plants from the site.

Planting leeks is most often attacked by an onion fly. The pest has an incredible appetite and is able to leave the gardener without a crop.

Pest control methods:

• dusting with wood ash (300 g per 1 sq. m), a mixture of wood ash and tobacco dust (1: 1), ground red pepper (2 tsp per 1 sq. m);
• spraying plants with tobacco infusion (200 g of makhorka per 10 liters of hot water, leave for 12 hours, mix 50 g of shavings of laundry soap).

How to preserve the grown crop?

The formation of a powerful stem in plants occurs in September.At this time, the plant can already be used in the preparation of various dishes, as well as consumed raw. Late varieties of onions can be stored for a very long time. To this end, in the middle of autumn, plants should be dug into the sand, having previously cut their roots to a length of 2-5 cm.

They should be placed in the sand tightly and vertically. The aisles should be filled with wet and clean sand. With this storage, the temperature should be 0 ° C and the humidity in the air should be approximately 80%. Such conditions allow leeks to be stored for 6-7 months. At the same time, its stem brightens, and its size becomes large. In February, the amount of vitamin C in onions increases.

Important! If the soil moisture is higher than recommended, the activation of nematodes or mites may occur. Therefore, storage humidity and temperature are very important parameters when storing this crop. But it is worth remembering that, observing a favorable regime, one cannot be sure that pests cannot appear. However, in this case, their development will be very slow.

In order for the harvested crop to be used for food all winter, you need to know how to store leeks correctly. Many people prefer the refrigeration method. To do this, you need to select good plants, clean and cut their roots and leaves, and cool to 0 + 1 ° C. Then they should be packed in 7-9 pieces, using plastic bags for this. They can stay in the refrigerator without any loss of quality for 4-5 months. But with any type of storage, plants need to be inspected from time to time, because they can dry out, hurt or rot. Discard spoiled leeks immediately.

Interesting information about growing leeks can be gleaned from the video:

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 the acidity in the soil, dolomite can be added to it in the fall. When the soil has an alkaline pH, some peat is added in the fall. It is also recommended to fertilize the land during this period in order to increase its physical characteristics and fertility. To do this, rotted manure and compost can be added to the soil. For one square meter of area, 6-8 kg of fertilizer should be applied.

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

When the soil has been prepared, you can start preparing the planting material. The most common cultivation of leeks is 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 as it should, then the seeds will retain their germination for 3 years. This means that they can be sown during this time.

Proper cultivation of leeks outdoors

Many salads wouldn't taste as thin without an ingredient like leeks. Due to its excellent gastronomic qualities and rich vitamin composition, the plant is grown by many gardeners. An annual culture native to the Mediterranean, it has unusual greenish-blue feathers with a characteristic aroma. The lack of pungency and a sweetish taste make the variety an aromatic spice.

Useful properties of leek

The composition of this vegetable crop is rich in vitamins C, B2, B, PP, B and various minerals. Calcium, potassium, magnesium salts, ascorbic acid and essential oils make this product unique and very useful for enhancing immunity, improving metabolic processes in the body and treating a large number of diseases.

If you eat leek daily, you can cope with such serious diseases as:

• Atherosclerosis;
• Rheumatism;
• Gout;
• Excess weight;
• Stones in the internal organs;
• Salt deposits.

When to plant leeks

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

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

Some gardeners grow leeks for greenery.

One way to plant onions is by sowing seeds in late fall (usually November). It is important to make sure that the weather forecasts are not warm, this will provoke quick shoots.

How to properly grow and care for onions in the Moscow region?

For the Moscow region, you should choose varieties with an early ripening period. This is due to the climatic features of the region. Late and mid-late varieties will not be able to fully develop due to the lack of sunlight. It is recommended to grow in the Moscow region:

• Columbus - the white part of this onion reaches 30 cm, it has a mass of 300-400 g, its stem diameter is 5-6 cm;
• Vesta is distinguished by its considerable height - from 25 to 50 cm, weight 230-350 g, leaves reach 140 cm;
• Elephant grows up to 20-30 cm, leaves up to 150 cm, stem 4-5 cm;
• Tango is a low variety with a white part of 10-15 cm and leaves of 70 cm, weight 200-250 g;
• Casimir is distinguished by a small stem thickness - 3 cm, the height of the white part is from 20 to 30 cm, weight is 200 g;
• Goliath has gray-green leaves of medium size, grows up to 22-28 cm, stem thickness 5 cm, weight 150-200 g.

The growing season of leeks lasts six months. Therefore, in the middle lane, it is recommended to grow seedlings. If you plant seeds directly in the garden, the white part of the crop may not form well. Care involves regular feeding, hilling, watering and pest and disease control.

Planting seeds for growing seedlings at home

Proper soil and seed preparation

To plant seeds, a mixture of sod and compost soil with the addition of humus is used. Leek loves nutritious and light soil; in a dense substrate, seeds may not sprout.

Leek seeds

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

• dolomite flour;
• urea;
• double superphosphate;
• potassium sulfate.

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

How to plant seeds

Before planting, the seeds are soaked at home in room temperature water and kept for a day, after which they are 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 seed consumption 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.

The first shoots from sprinkled leek seeds

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

• the correct temperature regime within 22 degrees before germination;
• temperature adjustment after germination (in the daytime up to 18-20 degrees, at night up to 8-14 degrees);
• watering with heated water;
• provide good illumination for photosynthesis.

Sowing dates

Planting dates for leeks differ depending on the climatic characteristics of a particular region and variety. Auspicious dates of the lunar calendar are also taken into account.

Early ripening varieties are sown in April, mid-ripening ones - in late February-early March, late-ripening ones - in late January-early February.

In the northern regions of Russia, seedlings are sown in April-May. In the central regions with a more favorable climate, sowing work is carried out in the second decade of February. In the south, leeks are sown directly into the ground in late May and early June.

Sowing dates according to the lunar calendar for 2020:

• January - 1, 5-9, 11, 14-16, 21, 22, 25, 29;
• February - 2-4, 10, 13-15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 28, 29;
• March - 1, 3-5, 10, 11, 14-16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 29-31;
• April - 2-4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27-29;
• May - 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 12-14, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27-29;
• June - 1, 2, 4, 8, 11-13, 18, 19, 22, 24, 26-29.

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 an important step, 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 soil for planting should be neutral, loose enough. If the soil is acidified, it must be preliminarily limed.

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

Grooves are prepared for planting seedlings

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

Each root, before immersion in the ground, is treated with a special chatter, which is prepared from clay, manure and water (all components are taken in equal proportions). Too long shoots are shortened to 4 cm. Seedlings are sprinkled with soil in small quantities. Transplanting work ends with abundant watering.

Main characteristics and popular varieties of leeks

Leeks look more like garlic in appearance than onions.

Description of the plant

It has wide and flat leaves, and the bulb in the usual sense of the word is practically absent. More precisely, in the lower part of the plant is the so-called leg - a slight thickening of the stem, which is from 10 to 50 cm in height (depending on the variety and level of agricultural technology). Strong leaves grow from this stem, and as a result, the full height of the plant can reach almost a meter, and in rare cases even more. The underground part rarely reaches 5 cm in diameter.

The number of leaves on one plant is from 10 to 15 pieces, they are quite fleshy, edible (although the main nutritional value is the leg), so the mass of the entire bush is about 300 g, and sometimes up to half a kilogram. Since the leaves are not pure green in color, but with a blue tint, leeks are often called "pearl" onions.

Seeing a leek for the first time, you might think that it is garlic.

Biologically, leek is a typical biennial plant. This means that in the first year after sowing the seeds, a powerful branched rhizome, a leg (a false stem of almost white color) and leaves are formed, and in the second year - a seed arrow. This arrow can reach two meters in height and end in a white-pink umbellate inflorescence, from which seeds ripen by the beginning of autumn. The seeds are similar in shape and color to the usual "nigella", that is, onion seeds, they have little and the germination period is two years.

The prevalence of culture in different countries

In our country, leeks are not very well known, but this onion has a long history. Its homeland is considered to be Western Asia, from where it was brought to the Mediterranean, spread throughout Europe, and then ended up in most Asian countries and America.

Of the European countries, most leeks are grown in France, a country known for its culinary delights.

Why leeks are good for you

The leek leaves are slightly spicy to taste, much softer than most other members of the Onion family. The whitish leg is considered the tastiest part. Leek is rich in various vitamins and minerals, contains a lot of protein and sulfur-containing essential oils, similar to those found in garlic. Thanks to such a diverse chemical composition, leeks induce appetite, regulate peristalsis, and improve liver activity.

Leeks have a slight diuretic effect and are indicated for gout and rheumatism.

Cooking applications

From this bow:

• make soups;
• make salads;
• fried, pickled.

In different countries, leek dishes are mainly either the main course, or, conversely, side dishes. Leek dishes cooked in batter are considered delicious. When storing leeks, the amount of vitamins does not decrease for a long time, its freshness pleases gourmets even in winter.

The list of leek recipes is huge, you can even find a lot of soups

How difficult is it to grow this vegetable

From the point of view of agricultural technology, leeks are somewhat more difficult to care for than other types of onions, but they are also cold-resistant, although they are a resident of warm countries. Its seeds can germinate at minimal positive temperatures, but leeks need at least + 15 ° C for normal functioning. This culture needs good lighting, fertile neutral soil, and sufficient moisture. Under a thick layer of snow, many leek varieties winter well. Therefore, if you leave the plants in the garden, the crop can be harvested in spring, when warm weather comes.

Leek varieties

About three dozen varieties of leeks are grown on the territory of our country. However, in terms of appearance and structure, there is little difference between them. Most varieties have a slight thickening in the lower part, and only the Elephant (Elephant) variety is an exception in this regard: it has an absolutely smooth stem.

According to the ripening period, three groups of leek varieties are distinguished:

• early ripening (summer) varieties with a growing season of no more than 130–150 days: they form large legs, sometimes weighing up to 400 g;
• mid-season (autumn) varieties: ripen almost six months after germination, give a less weighty leg, but its taste is valued higher than that of early varieties;
• late-ripening (winter) varieties: give about the same yield as autumn ones, but ripen in a period exceeding 6 months; such onions are best kept.

Early maturing varieties

Among the summer varieties that are mainly used fresh and for canning, the following are the most popular:

• Columbus is a Dutch cold-resistant variety, forming a leg weighing up to 400 g, ripening in almost three months and requiring minimal maintenance (the operations of hilling and bleaching of the leg are optional);
• Vesta is a high-yielding variety, plants are almost one and a half meters high, while the leg can be 30-50 cm long. The variety is considered disease- and drought-resistant, but requires regular qualified care;
• The trunk of an elephant is a variety that differs from other early ripening ones in that its harvest can be stored for several months in suitable conditions (sand, vertical arrangement). The leg is up to 30 cm long, but it grows as such only with regular hilling.

Photo: early ripe leek varieties

Vesta is an excellent leek variety, but demanding on growing conditions

The elephant trunk leeks can be stored for several months under suitable conditions

Columbus is a Dutch cold-tolerant leek variety

Mid-season varieties

Many excellent varieties belong to mid-season, they can be stored for up to 2.5 months. The outstanding representatives of such varieties are the following:

• Casimir is a high-yielding variety, a white leg up to 30 cm high, the leaves grow almost vertically. Since the bulb is almost completely absent, it is very easy to process the crop (harvest it and peel it for use);
• The Winner is a frost-resistant variety that gives a white leg about 20 cm high with a diameter of up to 4 cm. The Winner considers the taste of green-gray leaves to be almost as good as the taste of the leg;
• Bandit is a Dutch variety with a low white part (usually only up to 7 cm, but with proper care, its height can be significantly increased). The variety is frost-resistant, with careful shelter for the winter in many regions, harvesting can be postponed until spring.

Photo: mid-season leek varieties

Casimir is a high-yielding leek variety

The winner is considered to be one of the best peninsular leek varieties

Bandit - a frost-resistant leek variety

Winter varieties

Among the winter varieties of leeks, the following can be noted:

• Karantansky is a variety entered in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation in 1961 and still has not lost its commercial value. This onion winters well in the garden, full ripening occurs at about 200 days of age, until the very frost gives a tasty and productive green mass. Leg up to 25 cm high, semi-sharp taste;
• Elephant (Elephant) is a Czech variety, a plant up to a meter high with wide blue-green leaves. Frost and heat resistant. The leg is small, spicy taste, used in the preparation of dishes from meat and fish;
• A good fellow - a universal variety that appeared several years ago. Forms a tall plant with vertical blue-green leaves and a thick stem up to 30 cm high.

Photo gallery: winter leek varieties

Leeks of the Elephant variety - a plant up to a meter high with wide blue-green leaves

Karantansky - the most famous variety of leeks Good fellow - a variety of leeks for universal use

Video: leek - a description of the culture, features of agricultural technology and the choice of variety

Leek care after transplant

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

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

For a good harvest, weed removal and loosening must be carried out regularly.

Further, the shoots should be watered with non-cold water once every 5 days. The irrigation rate is up to 10-15 liters of settled water per 1 m2.

During the season, leeks are fed 3-4 times. The plant responds well to organic fertilizers: mullein, compost, bird droppings. Mineral complexes rich in potassium, phosphorus and other micro and macro elements are also suitable. Each hilling is recommended to be combined 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 widen into the groove zone to saturate the soil with oxygen and prevent soil compaction.

Leeks respond well to feeding with mullein solution

Storage conditions

Leeks keep well. There are several storage options.

1. Due to its high frost resistance, leeks can be left in the soil for the winter. However, harvesting in winter is difficult and the soil is very hard. Onions left in the soil until May produce flower stalks and lose their value.
2. Leek can be stored in the refrigerator, pantry, basement. The storage temperature should be between 1-2 ° C. At this temperature, leeks are stored for 3-4 months.
3. Many summer residents practice storing leek in a room, for example, in the kitchen. So the leek is stored for up to 7 days.
4. Leeks can be stored in garden beds. It is important that the soil in the garden bed is dry.The onions are placed in the beds deep enough to cover the bleached part. The green part of the plant should protrude above the embankment. The bed is covered with straw or other insulation material.
5. Leeks can be frozen. It is best to cut it into small pieces and place it in a container or bag designed for freezing vegetables.

Harvesting and storage

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

The crop is well preserved in the refrigerator, wrapped in cling film. Before packing, the stems must be cooled so that condensation does not form under the polyethylene. Basements, cellars or pits with a temperature regime of no higher than 2-5 degrees are also suitable as storage facilities.

For preparations for the winter, the leek is placed in the freezer. After thawing, it retains its properties and is quite usable.

Leeks are still gaining popularity among Russian gardeners. It is very interesting and useful to gain invaluable experience in growing a crop and share it with summer residents, as well as boasting a magnificent harvest that may look unusual.

Winter sowing

You can plant the seed in the winter. In this case, the soil must be prepared as soon as the crop is harvested. Dig it thoroughly enough with fertilization. Then it is important to choose the right time for planting the seeds. You need to be completely sure that the first frosts have come, and there will be no more thaw. After all, if the seeds have time to germinate, then it will simply destroy them. In order not to thin out the plantings too intensively, it is advisable to plant 3 seeds at once in the hole. There should be at least 10 cm between them. The rows are made every 20 cm. For the winter, it is necessary to cover the beds with peat - this is mulch. After the snow falls, it is raked into the furrows of the wheatgrass.

Leeks - planting and care outdoors

The content of the article

Leek is a giant among other bows. Some of its varieties reach a meter in height. Traditionally, a lot of leeks are grown in the south of Ukraine, in the Baltic States and the Transcaucasus. In Russia, he is only gaining popularity.

The main edible part of the vegetable is the bleached false stem, which consists of leafy sheaths. The length of this part of the plant can reach 50 cm. Young leek leaves - wide, ribbon-like, can also be used for food. Having matured, they will become deeper and tasteless.

Adding leek to food makes it tasty and digestible. Onions do not have a pungent odor, they have a delicate aroma and delicate taste. The bleached part of the leek is sweetish, so it can be eaten by people with diseases of the alimentary tract

Choosing the best variety

Some gardeners believe that it doesn't matter where and what seeds to buy. The main thing is that the packaging is beautiful and the price is low. If you buy planting material, focusing only on these indicators, it is not a fact that you will get at least some kind of harvest, but it also happens that nothing comes out at all! It is better to take seeds from trusted manufacturers who have been working in this area for more than one year.

And of course, you need to carefully choose the varieties that are more suitable for your region. For regions with a temperate climate, seeds of early and mid-season varieties are more suitable:

• Columbus is a very early variety of Dutch selection, from germination to harvesting in just 85 days, with a long, even bleached part with a diameter of up to 7 cm. It is well preserved if covered with sand, it is also good in processing.
• Pluston F1 - a hybrid of Dutch selection, mid-season vegetative period of 120 days, white stem up to 20 cm long, weight up to 400 g. Stored up to 16 weeks. The variety has a high resistance to diseases.
• Elephant is a mid-season variety, from germination to harvest 140 days with wide blue-green leaves. The length of the bleached stem is up to 25 cm, weighing 200 g. Frost-resistant variety for long-term storage (5 - 6 months).

The number of onion seeds of this type in 1 g is about 180 pieces.

Requirements for growing conditions

Leek belongs to the group of sweet Spanish onions, along with shallots, onions, batun, tiered and chives. The birthplace of culture is the northern and southern coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. Hence the requirements for temperature - the plant is cold-resistant enough to withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -5, sometimes to -10 degrees and a long drop to -1 ... -2 degrees.

The optimum temperature for photosynthesis in leeks is the same as in other vegetables of Mediterranean origin - it is within + 17 ... +23. Leek grows poorly at temperatures above +30 degrees.

Temperature range for leek

The optimum acidity of the soil for the culture is 6.8-6.0.

Like all onions, the leek is a rosette plant, but unlike the tubular leaves of the batun and turnip, the leek leaves have a linear braid shape.

Leek is a biennial. In the first year, leaves are formed, in the second - a storage organ (bulb) and seeds.

Despite the exotic look, the leek is cold-resistant. In areas where there is a lot of snow, for example, in Siberia, it can successfully winter right in the garden. The next year, the plant will produce a bulb and seeds.

Features of growing various varieties

Some leek varieties, whose maturity period is quite long, do not have time to ripen before the first frost. The growing season of onions lasts 6 months and during this time the plant does not have time to develop fully. It is recommended to leave such plants to ripen in greenhouses or special rooms. This option for growing onions is relevant for the following late varieties:

• "Bulgarian";
• The Winter Giant;
• "Autumn Giant";
• "Karantayskiy";
• "Sizokryl";
• "Mercury";
• "Acreok".

The ripening period of early leek varieties is less, it is only 4 months. Early maturing species include:

• Gulliver;
• "Vesta";
• "Kilima";
• "Goliath";
• Columbus.

And also the variety "Karantansky", which is distinguished by excellent resistance to diseases and viruses.

Recommended varieties

The state register includes 27 varieties suitable for cultivation in all regions of Russia, including Siberia and the Far East. In seed shops, you can buy seeds of the following varieties:

• Alligator - medium late, the weight of the bleached part is 300 g, the yield is 3.5 kg sq. m;
• Karantansky - late ripening, the weight of the bleached part is 300 g, the taste is semi-sharp;
• The elephant's trunk is mid-ripening, summer-autumn at maturity, the mass of the productive part is 150 g, the yield is more than 4 kg per sq. m.

Varieties

Leek varieties are divided by ripening time into:

1. Very early and early - are characterized by strong growth, give a long stem, the leaves are light green. The harvest is intended for assembling bunches of onions, for drying, as an ingredient in frozen foods.
2. Mid-season - for autumn harvest, characterized by a thick, long stem and dark blue-green leaves.
3. Late varieties - grow more slowly, give a shorter stem, have a dark green color with a blue bloom. Plants are resistant to low temperatures and can overwinter in the soil.

The length of the white part of the onion - the leg - is also important.

Preparing for landing

Due to the length of the growing season in most regions of the Russian Federation, leeks are grown by seedlings. Only in the south can it be sown with seeds in open ground. Plants sown directly to the garden bed are more seasoned and can tolerate drought and cold weather more easily.

It is convenient to grow leek seedlings in cassettes. The cassettes allow replanting young plants without damaging the roots, which ensures their quick survival. Cluster seedlings do not need a pick. The survival rate of plants is almost 100%.

It is better not to overgrow seedlings. The highest yield is achieved when planting 30-40-day-old plants. When planting 50-day seedlings, you can lose in yield, since its roots will be damaged during transplantation.

Good seedlings by the time of planting in open ground have a length of 15-20 cm, 3-4 true leaves and 0.3-0.4 cm in diameter.

Beyond the Urals, seeds for seedlings are sown on March 15, in the middle lane no later than March 1. The planting containers are covered with peat mixed with diammophos (40 g of fertilizer per 10 liters of substrate).

Planting leeks for seedlings according to the lunar calendar 2019

Often gardeners are guided by the lunar calendar. This practice has been known since ancient times. Farmers have noticed that lunar cycles affect the development of cultures. During the growing phase, the sap of the plant is directed upward. And with decreasing - to the roots. According to this version, leeks should be planted on the growing moon. Leaves are prized in this vegetable.

Since the seeds for seedlings are planted from the end of February to the beginning of March, the days from March 7 to March 13 will be suitable for this in 2019. It is not advisable to carry out planting work during the full moon and new moon. And also the day before these phases and the next day after them.

Planting leeks

Leeks are returned to their original place not earlier than after 3-4 years. The best predecessors of culture:

Leek is picky about moisture and fertility. Loamy and floodplain soils with a pH close to neutral are suitable for growing crops. The soil is prepared in the fall - they dig up a shovel on a bayonet and apply mineral fertilizers. Per meter of the bed, add 100 g of diammophoska. Fertilizer can be applied later - with irrigation water.

Seeds are sown on the garden bed with the beginning of the first field work. Seedlings are planted 2 weeks later. The first date for planting seedlings in open ground is May 15.

Leeks are grown in multi-line ribbons with a line spacing of 30 cm and between plants in a row of 10-20 cm. The highest yield (4-5 kg) is obtained when 40 plants are planted per square meter.

In the first half of summer, onions develop slowly, so fast-growing vegetables can be sown between rows: spinach, kohlrabi, radishes, carrots.

To extend the terms of use of fresh products, summer sowing of leeks with seeds in open ground is used. In such plants, only young leaves are eaten.

Caring for leeks is almost the same as caring for onions. The only difference is that you need to spud the plants 2-3 times, covering the lower part of the leaves with earth. This technique provides whitening of the false stem.

Plant care includes:

• 2 top dressing with complex fertilizers;
• chemical treatment in May against onion fly;
• 2 hilling - at the end of June and at the end of August;
• weeding;
• watering.

The culture removes from the soil an average amount of nutrients, which is associated with a small volume of the root system.At the same time, the leek needs high soil fertility, since it needs to form an impressive above-ground mass. Early ripening varieties that quickly form a crop are especially demanding on nutrition.

Leek is responsive to organic matter, but it must be introduced in the fall or under a previous crop. As for mineral fertilizers, most of all leeks require potash. On the second place - nitrogen, on the third - phosphoric.

Phosphorus contributes to the formation of strong roots. Potassium improves taste. Nitrogen fertilization promotes leaf growth.

All feeding is stopped a month before harvesting so that the taste of the product does not deteriorate.

The culture is sensitive to lack of moisture in the soil. The soil in the garden bed should always be slightly damp.

In drought, leaf growth stops. If you water the onion at this time, pouring at least 2 buckets of water per square meter, growth will quickly resume.

Drip irrigation is very effective, allowing you to keep the soil in the root zone constantly moist. Furrow irrigation can be used.

Fertilizer

Leek belongs to medium-deep rooted plants, has high nutritional requirements.

Organic fertilizer is most desirable for growing this onion, so it should be grown in the first or second year after the introduction of manure, compost. The recommended dose is 30-40 tons per hectare (300-400 kg per hundred square meters).

Organic fertilizer, especially incompletely composted organic matter, should not be applied later than one year before planting. It is better to plant the leek on the site as a second vegetable after adding organic matter. Onion vegetables grow well after picking early cucumbers or potatoes.

The more time passes from the use of manure, the more in subsequent years it will be necessary to supplement this type of fertilization with mineral compositions.

Mineral fertilizer is applied to the soil (using preparations with basic nutrients - NPK 3 weeks before planting). If necessary, foliar dressing is also used, usually with nitrogen fertilizers, no later than 6 weeks before harvest. Heavy rains require a 30% increase in doses.

Approximate doses of mineral fertilizers (active ingredient kg / per hundred square meters):

• nitrogen - 1-1.5;
• phosphorus - 0.6-1;
• potassium - 1-1.5.

Phosphorus and potash fertilizers, as well as half of the nitrogen dose, are applied 2 weeks before planting the seedlings, the rest of the nitrogen is applied later.

Doses of phosphate fertilizers are determined based on chemical analysis. The optimum phosphorus content in the soil should be at least 60-80 mg / dm³. In the absence of recommendations for fertilizers, the approximate dose is 1-1.5 kg / hundred square meters in the form of double superphosphate.

The potassium content in the soil must be at least 150 mg / dm³ on light soils and 300 mg / dm³ on medium soils. In the spring, potassium sulfate is introduced at a dose of 1-2 kg / hundred square meters.

When planting leeks, nitrogen fertilizers are usually applied twice:

1. before sowing (planting seedlings);
2. in the growth phase of the plant - usually 2 months after the first dose.

Foliar dressing is especially valuable in the 4-6 leaf phase.

When to harvest

Leek has no physiological rest and grows intensively during the entire growing season, which can be up to 220 days. Harvest this onion green.

Leeks are 2-3 times more productive than onions.

In the first half of summer, leeks produce bunchy products. Onions begin to be selectively harvested when 4-5 true leaves have formed. In the middle lane, leek harvesting ends at the end of October. Some of the onions can be left in the soil and harvested in the spring.

Early maturing varieties can be harvested 130-150 days after germination. The first number means technical ripeness and selective harvesting, the second - the time when mass harvesting is carried out.

Plants during harvest:

• slightly undermine with a shovel;
• carefully removed from the ground;
• shake the soil;
• the leaves are cut by 2/3;
• dried.

Disease and pest control

The most dangerous disease of leeks, especially in wet years, is onion rust.Diseases can be a big threat to cultivation, including rust, Alternaria, white rot, and leek root rot.

The main pests of leek:

• nematodes,
• caterpillars of the scoop,
• wireworms,
• cabbage fly,
• thrips,
• leek fly,
• onion moth,
• spider mite.

Interesting article on the topic - Fighting the wireworm

Thrips are the most dangerous in terms of harmfulness. The approach to this pest should be the same as in the case of growing conventional onions. At the beginning of the season, the cabbage fly is dangerous, and when growing onions in late autumn, the leek fly.

Tobacco thrips

Thrips (Thrips tabaci) is a polyphage found on many types of crops and wild plants. Over the years, the insect has done great damage to leek plantings.

Adult insects are 1-1.3 mm long. Their body color is different - in spring and summer - bright yellow, in winter - dark. The larvae are similar to adult insects, but wingless. Thrips overwinter in onion residues left in the field, in storage rooms and in the upper soil layer. In the spring they fly over. Females lay eggs in plant tissue, after 4 days the larvae hatch. 4-6 generations of thrips are hatched every year.

Photo. Thrips: on the left - an adult female, on the right - a larva.

Symptoms of defeat... Thrips suck cell sap from onion leaf tissue. Air enters the damaged cells, causing small, white-silver spots (see photo).

In case of severe damage, the spots join together, covering the entire surface of the leaf. Leaf spots form just a few days after adult insect infestation. Initially, they are barely distinguishable and occur individually. In sunny and dry weather, intense feeding and fast-growing pests do more damage. One plant can be attacked by several hundred thrips of different stages of development. They appear more often on the inside of the leaf. Most thrips, especially the larvae, feed on the lower part of the leek - at the border of the green and white parts of the leaves. They penetrate deep into plants.

Control measures... Thrips are difficult to control due to their continuous raids on onions from other host species and the hidden way of feeding inside the plants. Spraying should be started when the first damage is noticed. The treatment must be repeated after 7 days. After harvesting the onions, it is recommended to do 2 sprays again every 7 days, using the preparations that are used to process green onions. Also effective: Nurell Nurelle D 550 EC (0.5 l / ha), Ortin Orthene 75 SP (1 kg / ha), Reldan Reldan 400 EC (1.2 l / ha), Sumi- Alpha "Sumi-Alpha 050 EC (0.2 l / ha).

Leek (onion) fly

A dangerous pest, besides onions, it damages garlic. During the year, 2 generations of the leek fly appear. Onions damaged by a fly often suffer from diseases, pathogenic bacteria and fungi that cause rot.

Symptoms of defeat... Females pierce the leaves, drink the flowing juice. A typical symptom of larval feeding is damage to the thickened part of the leek stalk. In places of penetration of females, white spots are formed, running in rows along the leaf. Eggs laid by females can also be found there. After a few days, larvae hatch from them, which descend along the plants, forming narrow tunnels, the so-called mines. First generation larvae cause leaf deformation and prevent leek development. Damage caused by second generation larvae initially goes unnoticed. On the damaged areas of tissue, first pinkish, then brown traces.

Fight... To reduce the risk of a pest appearing on plantations, you need to follow the agrotechnology of growing leeks, plant healthy seedlings. When growing early varieties of leeks for the summer harvest, it is advisable to use agrotextiles that protect vegetables during females raiding and egg laying. Or perform 2-3 chemical treatments with an interval of 10-14 days.Unfortunately, chemicals are not effective against the larvae trapped between the leaves that form the edible stem.

An important factor is the location of the bow. The fly often chooses places sheltered from the wind (between trees).

After digging the onions, deep plowing (digging) should be carried out, and the infected parts of the plants should be collected and burned.

Onion moth

The pest is a moth (Acrolepia assectella) 6-8 mm long. Caterpillars are almost transparent immediately after hatching; as a result of intensive feeding, they can turn green. Females of the third generation hibernate in pits left in the soil, in cracks in the bark of trees, in warehouses. In spring (in the second half of April), when the average air temperature exceeds 7 ° C, they attack leek crops. Oviposition begins at 15 ° C on the upper side of the youngest onion leaves. Butterflies are active at night and hide during the day.

Symptoms of defeat... After emerging from the egg shell, young caterpillars remain for several hours on the surface of the plant, then they bite into the tissues and eat the leaves, causing the formation of longitudinal bright veins. The skin dries up and then bursts. Long, uneven holes form on the leaves, and the leaves curl. Caterpillars most often damage the pith leaves of the leek, which inhibits the growth of especially young plants. The third generation of onion moth is the most dangerous.

Fighting onion moth... After collecting the leek, it is necessary to carry out deep plowing (digging) in order to destroy the caterpillars and pupae hiding in the plant debris. The most appropriate time for chemical treatment is the stage of the appearance of the black head of the caterpillars before they bite into the plants. Due to the extended flight time of butterflies, spraying should be carried out 2-3 times every 10-14 days, starting from the second decade of May. Recommended preparations - insecticides:

• "Bazudin" Basudin 600 EW (0.35 l / ha),
• "Superkill" Cyperkil Super 25 EC (0.1 l / ha),
• "Decis" Decis 2.5 EC (0.3 l / ha),
• "Diazol" Diazol 500 EW (0.45 l / ha),
• "Fastak" Fastac 100 EC (0.09 l / ha),
• "Karate Zeon" Karate Zeon 050 CS (0.12 l / ha),
• "Patriot" Patriot 2.5 EC (0.25-0.3 l / ha).

Spider mite

Sometimes the leek is attacked by a spider mite, which appears en masse in August, damaging the plants that are at the stage of collection. The oldest leaves become dull, dry.

Choosing a place on the site

For growing onions, it is advisable to choose a well-lit area with long daylight hours. It is not recommended to plant a crop in the shade of trees, next to buildings, a fence. The soil should be light, fertile and have a neutral acid reaction.

You can prepare a planting site in the fall after harvesting. To do this, dig up the soil to the depth of the shovel bayonet, remove all plant residues and stones.

Add urea or nitrophosphate at the rate of 20 g per meter. Additionally, you can add 1 bucket of compost or humus.

Recommendations for choosing the landing date. Which variety to choose

The homeland of leeks is Asia Minor. It is a biennial, cold-resistant and moisture-loving plant from the Onion family, reaching a meter in height.

Description of culture

At 1 year of life, the plant grows roots with a false white bulb. The diameter of this bulb reaches 8 cm, and its length is no more than 12 cm. The false bulb is eaten.

For 2 years, a peduncle grows, reaching a length of up to 2 meters with flowers of pink or white color. The seeds reach ripeness in the first week of September and remain viable for 2 years.

Attention! In case of mistakes in the care of the crop, a flower arrow can form at 1 year of age and then the leek will become unsuitable for human consumption.

The plant has green leaves of a pinnate type, similar to a lancet. They grow on a stem 60 cm long. In early spring they can also be eaten.

Photo by Chris Penny

Types and varieties of leeks

The whole variety of pearl onion varieties is divided into 3 varieties:

• early;
• mid-season;
• late.

When choosing the time when to plant leeks for seedlings, it is important to take into account the characteristics of these varieties:

Important! Late varieties in the process of storage increase the content of vitamin "C" 3 times. They can be stored for several months.

Leeks can be grown from seed as well as through seedlings. In the southern regions, it is grown by sowing seeds in the beds in the garden. In other areas, it is grown through seedlings.

When choosing a variety, the region of cultivation and the personal preferences of the gardener are taken into account. If the leek is grown for fresh consumption, then an early variety should be grown. If the goal is to preserve the harvest during the winter, you need to cultivate a late-ripening variety.

Landing dates

In practice, there are 3 ways to grow leeks from seeds:

• seedling;
• sowing in the spring with seeds in the ground;
• winter planting of onions.

For each locality, certain varieties of pearl onions and methods of growing them are recommended. The seedling method is often used.

When choosing a method of cultivation through seedlings, gardeners should be aware that the age of the planted seedlings should be equal to half the growing season of a particular variety. Seedlings of early leeks fall into open ground at the age of 60 days, mid-season ones - 75 days, and late ones, respectively, 90-100 days.

Photo by funcrush28

Origin of culture

Where this vegetable came from is not known for certain. The selectors are inclined that his homeland is Mesopotamia, that 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, used in Rome, Greece, and Europe. In the ancestor of the modern leek, the bulb was more pronounced. Now the culture is grown everywhere.

Characteristics and description of leek:

• biennial herb;
• 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 to 12 cm with a diameter of 2-8 cm;
• in the second year, the plant releases an arrow with seeds.

Sowing and caring for seedlings

The soil is prepared in advance from peat or soil with humus (you can purchase a ready-made soil mixture at a flower shop). You can recommend two ways to plant seeds for gardeners:

• traditional (in trays or pots);
• into a snail (according to the method of Yulia Minaeva).

Leeks have beautiful and massive leaves.

Traditional technique

To grow seedlings suitable for planting in open ground, you need:

• Spread the prepared soil mixture in an even layer in a container. The height of the planting tray should be at least 10 cm. Moisten well.
• Make grooves in the soil at intervals of 5 cm and a depth of 1.5 cm.
• Sprouted seeds are recommended to be spread in the grooves with tweezers one at a time every 3.5-4 cm. More frequent planting will require thinning the shoots after germination.
• After planting, the seeds must be sprinkled with a layer of peat and moistened with a spray bottle. Watering is not recommended - this will cause soil compaction and make it difficult to peck.
• After disembarking, the container is covered with polyethylene or a piece of glass and placed in a warm place with good lighting.

Seedlings will appear in 4-7 days, and after that the film must be removed, and the temperature in the room should be lowered to 15 ° C at night (during the day, the optimal room temperature will be 22-25 ° C). It is worth taking care of additional lighting (for the full growth of leek seedlings, you need 10-12 hours of daylight hours). For additional lighting, you can use a fluorescent lamp.

Young leaves and false stems are used both raw and boiled.

Yulia Minaeva's technique

The second way to grow leek seedlings is to plant in a snail, as advised by Yulia Minaeva, the winner of competitions for gardeners. This will require:

• tape of any non-rigid building material 10 cm wide (the strip will need to be rolled up);
• ready soil;
• pharmacy gum;
• a pallet slightly larger than the rolled tape.

The rules for planting seeds for onion seedlings are as follows:

• spread the strip on a flat surface (floor or table) and sprinkle ready-made moistened soil on it;
• step back 2 cm from one edge of the tape and spread the germinated seeds with tweezers at a distance of 4 cm from each other (each onion grain must be put so that it sinks slightly into the ground);
• the strip with the ground, where the sowing has already been done, is neatly rolled up;
• the finished roll is fixed with 2 rubber bands at the top and bottom and installed on a pallet (the edge near which the sowing was carried out should be upper);
• the resulting snail is moistened from above from a spray bottle and closed with a plastic bag (it is also recommended to fix the bag with an elastic band).

After the emergence of seedlings, the bag is removed, and the cultivation and care of the plants is carried out in almost the same way as when planting in the tray. The only difference is that watering is not carried out from above, but water is poured into the pan.

Those summer residents who planted onion seedlings in rolls claim that one snail allows you to grow more leek seedlings in a small area of ​​the windowsill. In addition, this method does not require special costs. One of the summer residents says the following about snails: "I have been successfully growing seedlings on plastic strips for several years, and after diving, I wash the plastic strips and remove them until next season to grow leek seedlings in them again."

After the sprouts are one month old, they are dived into separate jars. Before planting on the street, you need to make 2 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers.

Growing seedlings from seeds is an opportunity to get a full harvest of a delicious vegetable in one season.

Juicy stem in a cut

How to grow leeks from seeds in one season?

Leek seeds can be sown directly into open ground. It is only recommended to do this in the southern regions. Then you are guaranteed to get a harvest this season. Be sure to prepare the beds in advance in the fall and cover them with a black film for better warming up.

Seeds are sown at a distance of 12 - 15 cm from each other. The distance between the rows is about 15 - 20 cm. We water well and cover the beds with covering material with arches. You can sow seedlings directly into the ground for the winter. Only also the site is prepared in advance. In the summer, it is dug up and fertilized. In November, seeds are laid out at a distance of 20 cm from each other into grooves every 8 - 12 cm.

But you must also take into account the weather conditions. If the weather is too warm, the onions will sprout and sprout, and when it gets colder, the plants will die. Therefore, for the winter you need to mulch with humus or peat. Cover with snow next. Then in the spring everything will melt for a long time and the onion will sprout later.

Seedling problems and their solution

Onions are a delicate culture, diseases and pests do not bypass such a "delicacy".Leeks are often affected by:

• onion fly;
• black mold;
• cervical rot;
• rust of onions;
• downy mildew.

If you are sure that the seedlings are not in danger, then even a simple neglect of watering or temperature conditions can lead to onion disease. Therefore, growing leek seedlings is a painstaking task.

The best way to prevent disease and pest attacks is to take good care of your plants. First of all, do not forget to water and loosen the aisles in time. The next item is the shelf life of the seeds. It is best to use seeds that have lain for two to three years before sowing. Thus, all pests and viruses (mosaic, rust) will die before they enter the soil.

• The onion fly is very similar to the common house fly. The insect, about 5–6 mm long, lays the larvae in the soil or in the planting material. Pests eat the husk, and then the onion itself. The leaves begin to dry out and wither, the whole plant dies later. The best remedy is to treat the bulbs with a salt solution. Dilute it in a ratio of 350 g per 10 liters of water. The planting material should be soaked for a short time in such a salt bath.
• Onion rust is a stain that grows like pads. They show the spores of the fungus, which easily pass from plant to plant. The best control method is to remove and burn the infected feathers, and treat with a light solution of any antifungal fungicide.
• Downy mildew looks like the dying off and drying of the tips of the feathers, and then the entire plant. The color from green and saturated becomes pale gray, painful, whitish. The spots grow quickly. All infected plants must be removed and the rest treated. The best antiviral drugs in this case are copper oxychloride and Fitosporin.

Photo gallery: pests and diseases of onions

An adult onion fly is not as scary as its larva

Yellow-orange spots on the onion are indicative of rust infestation.

Downy mildew spreads rapidly between onion feathers
The seedling method of growing leeks is an excellent way to get a good harvest. One has only to pay attention to the peculiarities of the variety, so as not to miss the timing of transplanting seedlings into the greenhouse before frosts. And the rest of the success depends on the proper care of the culture. Like any vegetable, leeks require attention and work, but it's worth it.

Botanical description (with photo)

Pearl onion or, better known as leek, is a bright representative of the genus Onion from the Onion family. Since ancient times, it has been considered the food of the wealthy and aristocrats due to its many beneficial properties, because it has a pleasant exotic taste with a sweet or slightly spicy note. In some sources, where there is a botanical description of this vegetable, leeks are ranked as annual crops.

It is removed for storage or consumed in the same year when the planting was made. But, in fact, this is a perennial plant with a two-year development cycle. In the photo below you can see one of the varieties suitable for growing in the climatic conditions of many regions of our country:

In the first year of life, a leek forms a false bulb, rhizome and large linear-lanceolate leaves collected in a socket. The leaf plate has a length of up to 60-80 cm, their next arrangement forms a fan, as shown in the photo below. From the middle of the false bulb without bulbs or with a small number of them, a stem up to 80-100 cm high is formed, which depends on the type of plant. At the same time, the length of the bulb can vary from 10 to 12 cm, and its diameter is no more than 8 cm. The bleached part of the stem, which can be from 10 to 40 cm long, is eaten.

In the second year, the leek throws out a peduncle up to 2 meters long. An umbrella inflorescence is formed on it, consisting of small flowers of white, less often pink color.During these periods, the plant is quite similar to broadleaf garlic. Flowers with rough petals usually bloom from the beginning of June and recede by the end of July. After, in August, closer to September, fruits are formed - seeds. Like onions, they are triangular and wrinkled. The percentage of seed germination is quite high and remains at the same level for two years, then it slowly decreases, after 4 years it is very close to zero.

The average weight of one mature plant is 200-300 grams, there are varieties that differ in gigantic sizes, we will talk about them further and look at the photo of the best of them:

Description of the plant

Leek, or pearl onion, is a herbaceous bulbous plant; in the conditions of Russia it is grown as a two-year culture. The plant was known back in the days of Ancient Egypt and Rome, and gained active distribution during the colonization of Europe.

The onion gained particular popularity in France, where it was called “asparagus for the poor”. Today it is grown in industrial and domestic agricultural plots. Botanical features:

• height varies from 40 to 100 cm;
• in the first season, a strong root system is formed, represented by a bulb up to 8 cm in diameter;
• has a false stem, a large volume of green leaves of a linear-lanceolate shape;
• in the second year, a peduncle is formed, on which there are white or pink flowers collected in an umbrella inflorescence;
• in the fall, seeds are formed that can remain viable for up to 2 years.

Leeks have high frost resistance, suitable for growing in northern regions, where there is late and cold summers. In the south of the country and some central regions, planting is carried out directly into the ground, in the north and north-west, the culture is grown by seedlings.

Pros and cons of the method

Herbaceous biennial - popular throughout the post-Soviet space. The positive qualities of growing leeks using the seedling method are:

• the opportunity to get a harvest (albeit small) at home;
• use of capacity of any format;
• prepare in advance a more convenient place in the garden for further germination;
• checking the suitability of the seed even before the start of the season.

The technique is suitable for literally all gardeners: both experienced and beginners. Usually it does not cause difficulties if the event is held strictly according to the instructions.

The main condition, which is more attributed to the disadvantages of the germination technique: the peculiarity of preparing leek seeds before planting. Here it is necessary not only to soak in a solution for disinfection and active growth. Initially, a thermos with hot water is used.

The second negative point is the duration of waiting for a full harvest. Only in the second year after planting will the leeks have the desired qualities and appearance. A peduncle also appears, which contains seeds. By collecting them, the farmer will be able to increase the number of seedlings.

Picking

The transplanting of sprouted shoots takes place in a strict order: 1. Abundant watering of young shoots is necessary for better pulling out of the container along with the soil on the roots. 2. To take out the plant, it is convenient to use a fork or a special spatula. 3. When planting leeks in a row, there should be a free distance of 3-5 cm between the seedlings, or they are transplanted into individual cups. 4. Add additional soil and tamp lightly. 5. Water the plants lightly so that they take root better. 6. Cut the leaves a little.

Recommendation! In order for a healthy root system to form and the plant's stem to thicken, it is necessary to prune the leaves of the shoots every 14 days, leaving only 8-10 cm of leaves.

Why leeks go to the arrow: causes, methods of elimination

Leek goes to the arrow: reasons
I want to say right away that if you strictly adhere to all the rules for growing leeks, then in the end you can avoid the appearance of such an unpleasant problem. In view of this, try to water the crop in a timely manner, feed it and, of course, do not forget about the regular loosening of the soil and the fight against diseases and pests.

As for the most common reasons for the appearance of an arrow, experienced gardeners most often identify several. And oddly enough, all of them are associated with planting crops in the ground.

The formation of arrows on the leek can be facilitated by:

• The diameter of the bulbs when planted is more than 5 millimeters
• Incorrect storage of planting material
• Sudden changes in temperature indicators
• Low soil temperature during leek planting

As you probably already understood, in order to surely avoid the appearance of arrows on the crop, you just need to choose the right planting material and plant it on the garden bed only when the soil warms up enough.

Planting onions for seedlings in Siberia and the Urals:

For the regions of Siberia and the Urals, leeks are grown in seedlings. Because of the climatic conditions, it will not work any other way. He simply will not have time to ripen. This is best done from late March to mid-April. There are several stages of planting:

• preparation of seeds, containers, soil;
• sowing seeds into the soil;
• care of seedlings.

Since this onion has long roots, the container height should be at least 10 - 15 cm.

The seeds are poured with warm water for 8 hours and removed to a warm place, closer to the heating devices, so that the temperature is maintained. Then placed in Fitosporin solution. The containers are washed with hot water or manganese solution. Be sure to dry.

The soil can be purchased at the store, ready-made. But making it yourself will not be difficult. To do this, use garden soil and humus (1: 1). A little sand is also added. The mixture must be disinfected. This can be done by warming it up in a water bath, in the oven, or keeping it in the cold.

We spread the soil mixture in containers and pour it with settled water. We plant seeds by grain at a distance of 3 mm. and 8 mm. between the rows. Cover with cling film or glass and put in a warm place. When the seedlings appear, we remove the cover, and transfer the seedlings to a well-lit place. The temperature should be around + 15 ... + 20 ° С.

After a month, the plants are thinned out. The distance between them should be 5 cm. The extracted plants are placed in a separate container for growing. Follow-up care is as follows:

• maintaining the temperature during the day + 20 ° С, at night + 12 ° С;
• watering as the soil dries up and irrigation from a spray bottle;
• fertilizing with fertilizers. Add 1 liter. water 2 gr. potassium sulphide and urea, 4 g of superphosphate;
• pruning leaves every 10 to 14 days. Their height should not exceed 10 cm from the surface. Thus, the root system will develop better;
• hardening. The procedure is started 20 days before disembarkation. First, they are taken out into the open air for a short time, gradually increasing it.

Plant the grown onion seedlings in a permanent place, when it has well-developed 3-4 leaves, a trunk thickness of 1 cm, and an age of 1.5 - 2 months. The most suitable month for disembarkation is the beginning of June, since there are no longer any frosts.

When to plant leeks, depending on the region

In different localities of the country and the Near Abroad, the timing of planting leeks in the spring is not the same. Let's see when to plant leek seedlings in different regions.

How to grow leek seeds

In order not to buy seeds for the next year, you can independently collect planting material... To do this, you need to leave several bulbs in the ground. After wintering, the plant will shoot an arrow and begin to bloom. After flowering, seed pods are formed, which will give seeds.

If this option is not suitable, use the following guidelines:

1. Dig in the best bulbs in the greenhouse in the spring.
2. When the plants produce feathers, do not prune them.
3. The bow will shoot arrows, which will form seed pods.

Take a note:

How to cook pickled leeks

How to cook leek soup properly

Variety selection

If the gardener has already planted and worked on creating a leek plantation, then he will have enough seed material. At the same time, special attention is paid to the preparation of the seed for storage. Accordingly, the variety is already familiar and further work with it will not be difficult.

Provided that you have to buy the material, pay attention to:

• ripening group;
• onion variety name;
• semen collection and sorting times;
• can you trust the supplier, seller.

Let's decide on the maturation groups. There are 3 of them in total:

Varietal variety

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 onion Karantansky, Elephant, Autumn giant.

There are 2 ways to grow leeks: from seeds and seedlings. In poor climatic conditions, they are grown from seedlings in order to mature. In the southern regions, the soil warms up quickly, so it is permissible to immediately grow from seeds.

Regional features of seedling preparation

If you live in a cold region and you decide to plant leeks on your plot, then keep in mind that you need to grow it only through seedlings. You need to start cooking it early enough. This is due to the fact that leeks have a long growing season: they need about 6 months to grow and develop.

As you can see, preparing and planting leek seedlings is not difficult, and even beginners can cope with this matter. Sow the seeds in a timely manner, take the required care of the seedlings, plant them correctly, and you will definitely get a healthy plant and provide yourself with a good harvest.