How to plant leek seedlings. Leek: growing and caring for a plant

The taste of many salads would not be as subtle without the ingredient leeks. Thanks 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 sharpness and sweetish aftertaste elevate the variety to the category of aromatic spices.

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. She is being sown in the second half of February or early March in prepared boxes, pots or cups.

To obtain seedlings, the conditions of irrigation and temperature conditions must be observed. If you sow the seeds in open ground, you can not wait for the harvest due to the death of the plant due to frost and snow (there is a risk of freezing both in spring and autumn). Some gardeners practice growing leeks for greenery, which is harvested in July.

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

Sowing on the beds can be done in greenhouse conditions or using the technology of growing under agrofiber.

Planting seeds for growing seedlings at home

Proper soil and seed preparation

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

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

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

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

How to plant seeds

Before planting seeds soaked at home in water at 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 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.

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 germination;
• temperature adjustment after germination (in the daytime up to 18-20 degrees, at night up to 8-14 degrees);
• watering to carry out heated water;
• provide good light for photosynthesis.

Picking and hardening

It is better to grow seedlings of culture without a pick, seated in separate containers is not necessary. Shoots will be ready for planting on open ground after reaching the age of 2-2.5 months.

For 6-7 weeks after the emergence of shoots, seedlings need harden. To do this, boxes or pots should be taken out into the street and left in partial shade for several hours, gradually increasing the time spent in the air. In strong winds, air 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 an 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 kill young shoots.

A bed for leeks is chosen in open areas so that it can grow with maximum access to light. It is not recommended to plant a crop near bushes and trees.

The soil for planting should be neutral reaction, quite loose. If acidification of the soil is noted, it must first be limed.

It is advisable to prepare the beds in the fall. To do this, the site is dug up and cleared of roots and weeds, after which treated with Nitrofoska(2 tablespoons 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, grooves are prepared in the selected area. Their depth is 10-15 cm, interval - 25-30 cm. A distance of 10-20 cm is observed between shoots, depending on the variety.

Each root, before immersion in the ground, is processed with a special talker, which is prepared from clay, manure and water (all components are taken in equal proportions). Too long stems shorten up to 4 cm. Seedlings are sprinkled with soil in a small amount. Transplantation work ends with abundant watering.

Leek care after transplant

Leek is not very whimsical to care for, but it will take effort to get a crop. To grow a good crop that will not be afraid of transportation and will grow healthy, you need to take care of it properly.

Care includes:

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

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

During the season, the leek is 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 it is necessary to loosen the soil around the shoots until the stem is as thick as a pencil. Further, the procedures become more frequent and expand into the zone of grooves 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), cut at the root by 1 cm.

The crop is well preserved in the refrigerator, wrapped in cling film. Before packaging, 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 defrosting, it retains its properties and is quite suitable for use.

Popular with gardeners, leeks are a healthy vegetable with a slightly spicy taste. Contains vitamins and microelements necessary for the human body. It is grown in industrial, farm and summer cottages. For good yields, you should know how to plant leeks. It has its own characteristics of planting, growth, care in the open field.

Origin of culture

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

Characteristics and description of the leek:

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

What does a leek look like

Another name for it is the Pearly Prince. In Russia, due to the peculiarities of growing and caring for leeks, they are cultivated mainly in the southern regions, but there are ways to get a good harvest in other regions. In terms of frequency of use in nutrition, it is second only to onions and garlic. For food use fresh, boiled, stewed, baked, marinated. The taste of a fresh vegetable is slightly pungent, but not burning.

The height of the plant from the ground is 0.4-0.9 m. The leaves are green or bluish.

The flowers are white or pinkish, the inflorescence forms an umbrella, similar to a large ball, does not form a bulb. Can separate several onion babies.

The stem is thick, white. The leaves are long and grow in bunches. For clarity, in the photo leeks:

Varietal diversity

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-ripening onion Karantansky, Elefant, Autumn giant.

There are 2 ways to grow leeks: from seeds and seedlings. Under bad climatic conditions, it is grown from seedlings so that it has time to ripen. In the southern regions, the soil warms up quickly, so it is permissible to immediately grow from seeds.

Useful properties and contraindications

Leek contains sodium, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, E, H, group B. It is a dietary product because it has few calories. Saturated with iron and vitamin C. This allows the vegetable to be used in the prevention and treatment of anemia. Ascorbic acid increases the protective properties of the body, breaks down fat deposits.

Fiber improves intestinal motility, creates favorable conditions for the development of beneficial microflora. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure. Essential oils of leek facilitate breathing, help with flu, bronchitis, hay fever. Vegetable reduces high cholesterol, is the prevention of cancer (with the exception of smokers).

If there is even one of the contraindications, you should think about how you can replace the leek in the diet. Fresh vegetables are contraindicated in:

• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• disruption of the kidneys, bladder;
• urolithiasis;
• high blood pressure;
• individual intolerance.

In limited quantities, leeks can be eaten by lactating women. Excessive consumption of a vegetable can cause a headache. With diarrhea and increased acidity of the stomach, onions can aggravate the situation. In the presence of a tumor caused by smoking, it is undesirable to use it, as it can cause its growth.

Growing seedlings from seeds

Leek is a biennial plant. Delicate leaves, juicy stem grow only in the second year of his life. But there are several ways to grow leeks from seed in one season: early sowing in a greenhouse and pre-growing seedlings. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages, each gardener chooses what is acceptable for himself.

The active period of growth is 150-200 days. This process is accelerated by growing leeks through seedlings. Landing time: end of February - beginning of March.

Seed material is prepared, planted in separate containers, jars. The grown seedlings are transferred to the ground or greenhouse (greenhouse).

Preparation and sowing

Leek requires pre-planting seeds and caring for seedlings. Seeds can be used 3-4 years after they are collected. For a large harvest, it is advisable to take young seeds. But for the prevention of viral diseases, on the contrary, lie down - only after 2 years of storage.

Soak leek seeds in warm water for 25 minutes, then dip in cool water and remove. Sometimes rinsing with running boiling water through a sieve is used, followed by dousing with cold water. Then wrap in a damp cloth, leave for a few days, periodically moisturizing. This will speed up the emergence of shoots. Let the seeds dry a bit before planting.

Further actions with planting material depend on climatic conditions, vegetable varieties. In the southern regions, early-ripening varieties can be immediately planted in the ground. In other areas, sow the seeds in pre-prepared containers. They must be at least 12 cm deep, disinfected, treated with a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate. It is important that the planting material has a place for the development of the root system.

Fill the containers with light humus soil, tamp a little, water well. Sow seeds 5 cm apart, cover with sand 5 mm, do not water immediately, cover with foil. Keep at 22-25°C until seedlings emerge.

Features of seedling care

Growing leek seedlings to germination will take 2-3 weeks. Then the containers should be moved to a cooler place for 1 week (temperature from 10°C at night to 17°C during the day). Further grow at night temperatures from 13°C and daytime temperatures up to 20°C. It is important to provide seedlings with 12-hour daylight hours. For these purposes, you can use LED or phytolamps.

Leek seedling care involves regular and sufficient watering. Drying out of the soil is unacceptable. 1 month after germination, thin out the onion, leaving 3-4 cm between sprouts. After the leek grows by 10 cm, cut the seedlings every 2 weeks, leaving this height. It is necessary to make 2 top dressings: 2 weeks after germination and 1 week before planting seedlings.

Attention! Picking when growing leeks is undesirable. This can damage small roots.

Planting seedlings in beds

Growing leeks requires constant care: when growing seedlings, after planting in the ground. Subject to all the rules, seedlings give strong seedlings with formed leaves. After planting, seedlings also need to be looked after, observing the rules of watering, hilling, and top dressing. It is necessary to ensure that viral, bacterial, fungal diseases do not develop, pests do not appear.

When to plant leeks

The plant should be strong, the root system should be well developed. In open ground, leeks should be planted when 3-4 leaves are formed. This usually happens 2 months after sowing the seeds. Plant height - about 15 cm. When planting seedlings, the temperature should not fall below 0 ° C even at night.

It must be remembered that frosts are detrimental to young onions. Therefore, the main condition for landing is warmed earth. On average - mid-May, 55-60 days after sowing.

Leek seedlings grown and planted in the ground must be further looked after. There are varieties that remain in the ground all winter, and the crop is harvested in the spring. They should be planted in the summer, and in the fall you can already eat young onions. The main crop remains until spring, while during the winter the nutrients from the leaves pass into the stem, the onion becomes even better.

Garden preparation

Before planting leeks, you need to prepare the beds. It is good if before him tomatoes, legumes, potatoes, cabbage, eggplants grew in this soil. It is undesirable to plant in the same place more than 1 time in 3 years. Leek neighbors can be beets, carrots, strawberries, celery. With them, you can alternate the beds.

Before planting, pre-dig the ground, fertilize. If the soil is acidic (leek does not grow on such), you can add ground limestone or dolomite flour. It is advisable to mark the landing lines in advance. The soil should not be dry, moisten before planting, but do not flood.

Landing technology

It is important to know how to properly plant leeks. In order for the harvest to be good, a bright, open place is chosen, the soil is prepared. It is necessary to plant seedlings in mid-late May, in some regions the weather conditions allow this to be done in late April, early May.

On a note! Before planting seedlings, it is useful to dip the roots of seedlings in a mash for growth: clay and mullein (1: 1) with water.

When planting, seedlings should have from 3 leaves. Pre-water abundantly, trim the roots and leaves by 1/3. Plant in long V-shaped furrows. Can be planted from individual containers in holes. It is good to loosen the bottom of the furrow in advance, apply fertilizer (for example, manure, ash). Between future plants there should be 10-15 cm, and between rows 35-50 cm. After planting, leeks require care.

Direct sowing into the ground

Another way to grow leeks is directly from seed to soil. Sowing dates are the same, depending on the region of cultivation. It is necessary that the soil has time to warm up, frosts are very undesirable, they can ruin the crop. Treat seeds before planting: disinfect, you can also use a solution of manganese. Soak first in warm water, then dip in cold water. Or rinse first with hot and then cold water. Keep a few days in a wet cloth to germinate.

When planting leeks in the ground, the soil must first be prepared (watered, fertilized, loosened). You can make V-shaped grooves. Leave about 10 cm between rows. Sow seeds to a depth of 1 cm. Sow leeks only when the seeds swell. When shoots appear, they need to be shaded a little from the sun's rays.

In the Moscow region, leeks are planted first in greenhouses. Then the strengthened plants are grown on open ground, providing care. You can plant onions with subsequent wintering. In Siberia, the cultivation and care of leeks is somewhat different. Seeds are not sown in the ground. It is imperative to grow seedlings, but they should be planted in the ground not in mid-May, but in June, when there is no danger of prolonged frosts. For an adult plant, frost is not terrible. In autumn, you can not rush to harvest. Early maturing varieties are used.

In the Urals, planting and caring for leeks on open ground differ significantly in its different regions: in the Urals, you can follow the rules for planting onions, as in the Moscow region, and the Trans-Urals are similar in climatic conditions to Siberia, where the cultivation method is the same.

Features of care

To get a high yield from plantings, it is important to know how to grow leeks. It is necessary to follow the rules of watering, fertilizing, hilling. Leek does not get along well with weeds. It is necessary to monitor the appearance of pests and diseases, take timely measures. Further in more detail, how to care for leeks after planting.

The main condition for the successful cultivation of a vegetable is regular watering (every 4-6 days), you need to irrigate with cold water along the furrows (1 bucket per 1 m 2). To retain moisture and prevent the growth of weeds, cover the soil between the beds with straw or peat. Stagnation of moisture also negatively affects the development of onions and can lead to plant diseases.

top dressing

For the entire period of growth of leeks, it is fed several times with fertilizers with ammonium nitrate, mullein, ash or bird droppings. 2-3 weeks after planting in the ground between the furrows, it is required to shed a solution of ammonium nitrate (20 g), potassium salt (15 g) per 10 liters of water. Repeat every 2-3 weeks.

Sprinkle with wood ash before hilling: 1 tbsp. powder per 1 m 2. Organic fertilizers are also suitable: to breed mullein for 1 part of organic matter, use 8 parts of water. A solution of bird droppings is prepared in a ratio of 1:20.

Attention! Nitrogen-containing fertilizers should not be used. Nitrogen causes leek to rot.

Watering and hilling

After planting seedlings in the ground or sowing seeds, watering should be monitored, water stagnation and overdrying of the soil should be prevented. The first 3 days after planting, the seedlings do not need to be moistened, then watered once every 4-5 days. It is better to carry out watering along the furrows, do not wet the plants themselves. Sprinkle the soil with straw, hay, dried manure or peat. This will retain moisture and keep weeds from growing.

You need to grow leeks with regular hilling - 4-5 times per season. Due to this, the onion stalk (leg) becomes white. Loosen the soil every 14 days, weeds must be removed.

Diseases and pests

It is not difficult to grow leeks in the country, you just need to follow some of the nuances of sowing, growing, and caring. But all efforts can be in vain when plants are infected with viruses, fungi or pests. The main threats to leeks are:

• root mite;
• secretive proboscis;
• onion moth, fly;
• hoverfly;
• nematode;
• peronosporosis;
• cervical and bacterial rot;
• green moldy rot.

When a growing leek is infected with viruses, fungal diseases, pests, in most cases it will be necessary to remove the affected plants. To protect landings, the following rules should be observed:

• use of healthy seeds, better after 2 years of storage;
• alternate plant cultures, sow onions in their original place only after 3 years;
• plant after potatoes, celery, turnips, cabbage, cucumbers;
• before sowing, scald the seeds with boiling water;
• before planting or during top dressing, apply Zemlin, Bazudin or other means to the soil;
• observe the rules of watering, fertilizing, loosening, hilling;
• spray with insecticide if necessary;
• next door you can plant carrots or celery;
• alternate beds of celery and leek;
• harvest ripe crops in time;
• comply with the rules of storage;
• completely remove the remains of plants from the beds.

Harvest and storage

It is advisable not to pluck leaves from leeks intended for long-term storage during growth. Harvest ripe onions before the temperature drops to -5°C. Dig up the plants, dry a little, remove the clods of earth with your hands, while trying to ensure that the earth does not pollute the green part.

Trim the roots, leaving 1/3. The leaves can also be trimmed, but for long-term storage, it is better to leave them long. Next, remove the onions for the winter, sorting out all damaged and affected by diseases or pests.

There are several ways to store leeks:

1. Storage in a box (bucket) with sand. Preliminary 30-40 min. bake the sand in an oven at 200°C. Before laying the vegetable, slightly moisten the sand, but do not allow it to become wet. Pour 5-7 cm of sand into the box, place the leek stalks vertically. Add more sand, covering the entire white part of the stem. Cover with a lid, put in a cool (about 0 ° C) and damp (80-85%) place - basement, cellar. If the leek will be stored on the balcony, cover with a cotton blanket on top.
2. In a trench on an elevated place. Dig a trench 6-7 cm wide, lay a leek in it, sprinkle with earth, cover with boards, leaving small holes. In rain and frost, cover with a film on top.
3. In the pit Dig a hole that will fit the entire bow in an upright position. Load the leek, sprinkle with earth. In cold weather, close the top with dry leaves. It is advisable to put coniferous branches on the pit to scare away rodents.
4. Greenhouse. You can put the structure directly above the leek beds. It is better to dig it up first and shorten the roots, this will stop growth, preserve taste. It is necessary to dig the onion halfway into the ground, collect a greenhouse from above. The temperature inside must be at least 0°C.
5. Chilled or frozen. Rinse whole leeks, dry, cut, put in a bag, fill with air, close. Shelf life - 1 month. To freeze leeks for the winter, they also need to be washed and dried, cut, arranged in portions and frozen.
6. Drying onions. Rinse the vegetable, dry it, cut it, leave it for several days at room temperature. From above it is desirable to cover with gauze. Can be dried in the oven for 15 minutes. at 100°C. Store such an onion hermetically sealed in a dry, cool place.

Subject to all the rules for growing and caring for leeks, it gives a high yield. A variety of varieties and many ways to preserve the harvest allow you to enrich the diet with a tasty and healthy vegetable throughout the year. When using, you must remember about the presence of contraindications to its use.

Summer residents are increasingly growing leeks instead of ordinary onions or together with them. They plant it in the beds of summer cottages and in villages. The article will describe planting a vegetable from seeds, seedlings, care, harvesting.

This type of onion is also called pearl. The plant has long been grown by gardeners all over the world, but in the Russian Federation it has been planted in garden beds only since the 20th century. Onions and garlic are considered the most popular, and leek, according to the frequency of habitation in the beds of summer residents, village gardeners, takes an honorable 3rd place.

Seeds can be purchased at the store, on the market, through the online store or collected from your garden. They will grow well for 3 years.

Garden seed must be disinfected and pickled. How? Similar to cabbage seeds.

Before planting, the seeds are dipped in hot water (from +40 to +45 ° C), and then they need to be kept a little cold. In order for the seeds to sprout faster in the ground, they are pre-sprouted. Moisten a cotton or linen napkin with water (from +20 to +25 ° C), sprinkle seeds on it and leave it warm.

It will take 2 or 3 days and the seed material needs to be dried a little so that it becomes loose in the hands, so it is more convenient to sow it in the ground. Seeds are ready and they are sown on the beds.

How to grow seedlings?

If you live in the southern region, then from May 15, leeks can simply be sown in the ground. In the more northern regions, the central vegetable gardens first grow seedlings in containers, and then plant them in the ground.

In order for the seedlings to be strong, experienced gardeners advise sowing seeds:

• From February 15 to February 28, and best of all, in boxes that should be placed on the windowsills.
• From April 15, seeds can be sown in a glass greenhouse. From April 25, the seeds are planted directly on the garden bed and covered with plastic wrap.

Leek requires 10 to 12 hours of daylight. If the seeds are planted in February, then at night they need to be highlighted in order to reach 10, and preferably 12 hours of light days.

Before sowing, the soil must first be moistened. Ideally, if the seeds are germinated and they are planted 5 cm apart from each other. The depth of the furrow should be made from 1 to 1.5 cm.

The place where the boxes will be located should be well lit, and the air temperature is required from +22 to +25 ° C. When shoots appear, the film must be removed and the temperature in the room should be set from +15 to +17 ° C during the day, and from +10 to +12 ° C at night. In this temperature regime, seedlings should grow for 7 days.

In the future, during the day they need a temperature of +17 to +20 ° C, and at night from +10 to +14 ° C. This is a suitable temperature regime before planting in open ground.

If a summer resident or a village gardener wants to get an excellent harvest, he adheres to a similar temperature regime. If the temperature is too high, then an arrow with seeds will appear on the plant not for 2 years, as it happens, but for 1 year.

A month will pass, seedlings in boxes or other containers will grow densely and need to be thinned out. The optimal distance from 1 sprout to another is 2 or 3 cm. Extra plants can be transplanted into pots with a diameter of 4 cm.

Seedlings come out strong if grown in pots, where peat is with humus. You can also use peat tablets. Such plants do not need a pick.

When conditions are favorable, seedlings should be watered with tea compost. The first watering is carried out after 2 weeks, as the plant grows up and before transplanting into open ground.

"Advice! When the plants grow, their leaves need to be cut so that they are no longer than 8 or 10 cm. This is done every 14 days. Then the roots grow, and the stems become thicker.

Before planting in open soil, plants in boxes, pots, or something else are taken out for a while to fresh air. They get used to natural conditions and take root perfectly in the beds.

When are seedlings ready to be transplanted into beds? 6 or 8 weeks after sowing and when they have stems 0.5 to 0.8 cm in diameter.

We plant seedlings

The best land for leeks is loamy soil with a neutral environment. This is fertile soil. From the beds there will be a rich harvest.

If the owner prepares the soil in the fall, then he introduces compost into the place of future beds. Approximately 6 kg per 1 m2. In the spring, you can add 3 kg per 1 m2 of compost or humus. You can't dig up the beds.

It’s great if there were beds on the site before planting the leek: tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, legumes. When are onion seedlings planted in open soil? May warm days.

Before planting in the ground, the roots with leaves of plants are cut off by 1/3. You can make a 1:1 talker by mixing clay with mullein and dip the roots of the seedlings there. This is done so that the plants take root better in a new place.

How deep to make holes for leek seedlings? 10 to 13 cm deep. Compost or rotted manure is laid on the bottom (fresh is not allowed). Each plant has its own hole.

It is necessary to sprinkle the roots on 50% of the hole with soil. Now thoroughly water each plant.

Planting onions is best done according to the following schemes:

• two-row, when the distance between seedlings is from 15 to 20 cm, and between rows from 30 to 35 cm;
• multi-row, where between plants there will be from 10 to 15 cm, and between rows from 20 to 30 cm.

For a vegetable, like most others, narrow beds are suitable. If the distance between the rads is decent, carrots or strawberries (garden strawberries), beets, celery, onions can be sown there.

Experienced gardeners share the nuances of care

Much attention should be paid to care after planting seedlings in the ground, and then it will be easier. If you follow the recommendations, then the leek will grow large and tasty.

1. It is necessary to regularly not only water, but also weed the beds from weeds. Let it become a habit. The soil must be often moistened so that it does not dry out, but the water, as in a swamp, should not stand.
2. During the growing period, seedlings need to be spudded 3 or 4 times. Then the leg of the onion will be long and white. Straw mulch + manure (crumbly) + slightly dried grass can be spread around the plants.

You need to fertilize a leek when it is 15 to 20 cm in height and has 4-5 leaves. Saplings are constantly growing and even those that are removed to the basement or cellar for the winter.

The composition is good for fertilizer: 1 liter of mullein + 10 liters of ordinary water at room temperature. This solution should be watered between rows. They pour at the roots of the plant, and not on it - it does not tolerate it well.

A similar composition fertilizes soils poor in minerals. If the soil was well fertilized before planting, then it is enough to periodically water the soil with infusion of freshly cut nettles.

"Advice! Leek is not fed with a fertilizer containing a lot of nitrogen. Otherwise, when stored in the basement, cellar, it will rot. It will definitely deteriorate if it is stored for a long time. ”

When the onion quickly gains green mass in July and a false bulb forms in it, it needs to be watered abundantly. The owner must ensure that the soil is moist, but not wet.

Tips for growing leeks the right way:

Diseases, with pests

When a gardener grows leeks, he may encounter such plant diseases and pests:

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

About the onion fly

Most often, onion flies attack seedlings. They eat the leaves and the owner notices that there are light passages in them. Flies lay their larvae in the underground part, and those from below eat up the plants.

The owner, knowing about these problems, should start pest control in time. In the aisle, experts recommend growing carrots. The tops have a specific smell and the onion fly does not like it.

To scare away pests, leeks are poured with a solution: 200 g a glass of ordinary salt + 10 liters of room temperature water. Salt is dissolved in water and the plants are watered with a solution under the roots.

It's great when the owner makes a powder of ground carrot seeds or black pepper and works the land around the plants. 1 full tsp is required per 1 m2. Ash powder has also proven itself well.

Harvesting, with storage of vegetables

The last leek from the beds should be removed before the air temperature drops below -5 ºC. After all, the maximum that an onion can endure is a decrease in air temperature to -7 ºC.

Dig up the onion with a shovel, leaving it to lie down for a while to dry, on the edges of the furrows. Now the vegetables need to be shaken off the ground. It is especially important that there is no earth left between the leaves.

1/3 of the roots need to be trimmed. The leaves are not touched, as the cut plants will quickly wither.

If the gardener plans to store onions in the cellar, then there should be a temperature from -1 to a maximum of +1 ºC. Humidity is about 85%.

If you take a box, pour 5 cm of moistened river sand on the bottom, insert an onion vertically into it, then it will be stored for about 6 months. In such a box, vegetables can be stored on the balcony. In cold weather, when the temperature drops below -7 ºC, vegetables are covered with a film and a blanket.

Vegetables can also be stored in the refrigerator. It is best to choose the strongest ones, cut their tops, with roots.

Plants can withstand a little at a temperature not lower than 0 ºC. Then they are packed from 6 to 8 pieces. packaged and at -5 ºC they can be stored for up to 4 or 5 months.

Some owners keep onions chopped. It is pre-washed, dried and cut into leaves, with stems. 5 cm layer of greens is poured into plastic bags and placed in the freezer.

Although the leek has begun to appear more and more often in gardens on household plots in Russia, in general it is clearly not grown enough. And since it has undeniable advantages: productivity, excellent taste and medicinal properties, it makes sense to allocate a place for it in your garden. Do not be afraid of the difficulties of growing this vegetable - we will help you overcome doubts and deal with this not so difficult task.

Brief history and description of the plant

The leek (also sometimes called the Pearl onion) originated in ancient times in Asia, from where it was distributed to the Mediterranean. It grows wild there to this day. In a cultural form, it was known to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Thanks to its growing popularity in the Middle Ages, it spread throughout Europe. The maximum volumes of cultivation, consumption and export of leek have been achieved in Western Europe, especially in France, and it is also widely distributed in North America. In Russia, in the middle of the last century, little was known about this bow. In the State Register in 1961, the first of the leeks appeared - Karantansky, where he existed alone for 22 years. Only since 1993, the list gradually began to expand and at present its number has reached twenty-seven varieties with different ripening periods.

As a biennial herbaceous plant, the leek is a bulb with little or no bulbs. A stem emerges from its center, from which wide linear leaves extend. Depending on the variety, as well as on the growing conditions, the leaves can be light or dark green. The lower white part is called the false stem, which is mainly eaten. Its length is usually from 10 to 50 cm, and its diameter is 2-5 cm. These parameters depend on the planting method and growing conditions. There have been cases of obtaining leeks weighing up to nine kilograms.

There have been cases of growing leeks weighing up to nine kilograms

If you leave the leek for the second year, then it forms a spherical peduncle up to two meters high, which blooms in the middle of summer. At first it is closed with a cover, after opening of which small white or pale pink flowers appear (they can also be purple or lilac in various varieties of onions). Seeds are usually harvested in September.

First, the leek peduncle is covered with a cover, after opening which small white or whitish-pink flowers appear.

Leek is rich in salts:

• potassium;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• gland;
• magnesium;
• sulfur.

It also contains vegetable proteins and vitamins:

• ascorbic acid;
• a nicotinic acid;
• carotene;
• riboflavin.

Moreover, unlike other fruits, during storage, the amount of vitamin C in this onion does not decrease, but increases significantly. This happens as a result of the transfer of juices from the leaves to the leg.

Assortment of leek varieties

There are varieties of leek with different ripening periods. In September and even August, onions of early varieties are harvested. The term of their maturation is 150 days from the moment of emergence of full shoots. Mid-season varieties include varieties that ripen in 180 days. Accordingly, they start harvesting in October towards the end of it. Late varieties ripen over 190 days, and in mild climates they can be left over the winter in the soil for early spring use.

Of the early varieties can be noted:

• Jumper. Dutch hybrid of medium height (up to 60 centimeters) with a length of the bleached part of 20-25 centimeters and a diameter of up to four centimeters. The weight of the edible part is in the range of 250-350 grams. The average yield is 2.5 kg / m 2.
• Vesta. Domestic variety of the Moscow Agricultural Academy. The height of the plant is 1-1.4 meters, the diameter of the bleached part is 2.1-3 cm, its length is 26-50 cm, and its weight is 210-232 grams. The yield reaches 5.7 kg / m 2.
• Elephant trunk - a variety from the well-known agricultural company "Aelita". It has modest characteristics: the length of the bleached part is 15 cm; its diameter is 2.5 cm; weight - 150 grams. But the yield is almost twice as high as the Jumper - 4.3 kg / m 2.

Popular mid-season varieties:

• Casimir. Known since 1996, a German productive variety. In the State Register, it is classified as mid-ripening, although its ripening period is 200 days from the emergence of seedlings. It has a false stem 22-26 cm long and 3-3.5 cm in diameter. Productivity in industrial cultivation is 399 c/ha, including 291 c/ha of the bleached part.
• Gulliver. The variety was obtained by breeders of St. Petersburg in 2002. A plant of medium height with a length of the bleached part of 25 cm, a diameter of 4.5 cm and an average weight of 230 grams. From one square meter, 4.2 kg of edible stems are obtained.
• Tango. Russian-Czech variety. The state register refers to mid-season with a ripening period of 150 days. It has a short leg (12 cm), but a rather large diameter - 5 cm. The average weight of the productive part is 200-250 grams.

And finally, late varieties:

• Karantansky. The height of the bow is medium, the leg has a length of 10 to 25 centimeters and a diameter of 4 centimeters. At the same time, the weight is 204-325 grams, the yield is 213-258 c/ha with a marketability of 98-100%.
• Good fellow. Another variety from Aelita, which has a tall plant with a leg length of 28 centimeters and a diameter of 4.5 centimeters. The productive part has a mass of about 200 grams, the yield is 3.9 kg/m 2 .
• Elefant MS. Czech selection. Maturing term - 180-200 days. Plant height - 65-85 cm, leg length - 10-25 cm, there is no data on the diameter, it is indicated that it is medium. Plant weight - 200 grams. Productivity - 320-380 q/ha. According to the description of the originator, it has undemanding moisture and frost resistance.

Rules for growing leeks

This process is not particularly difficult and is quite within the power of even a novice gardener. And if he already has experience in growing ordinary onions from seeds, then it will not be difficult for him to cope with this crop.

Landing

Leek is usually planted as seedlings, since it has a rather long ripening time. But it is also possible to sow seeds or bulbs (as sighting bulbs are popularly called) immediately to the garden.

Landing dates

They, of course, depend on the region of cultivation. In the middle lane, leek seedlings are usually planted in the ground by mid-May, like other garden crops. Considering that its age should be about 60-70 days by the time of planting, and the seeds, as a rule, germinate within 1.5-2 weeks, they should be sown for seedlings from the beginning of February to the first days of March. For other regions, these dates are adjusted depending on their inherent climatic conditions. The use of the seedling method is guaranteed to produce fruits within one season.

When growing leeks in a seedless way, it is necessary to start sowing seeds as early as possible - immediately after the occurrence of suitable weather conditions. Using seeds of early ripening varieties, it is quite possible to get a crop within one season. Well, if not, then by the fall, in any case, young plants with a stem 1-2 centimeters in diameter will grow, which, having overwintered, will produce a crop by the end of next spring. The same result can be achieved when sowing seeds in the summer until the end of June.

Video: winter leek review

Bed preparation, possible predecessors and neighbors

As with any crop, it is better to prepare a bed for leek in the fall. When choosing a site, preference should be given to flat, well-lit places. The onion loves soil loose, fertile, with normal acidity. Loams and sandy loams are best suited. Good predecessors and neighbors are:

• cabbage;
• potato;
• tomatoes;
• pumpkin;
• legumes;
• peas;
• greenery.

Do not plant onions where they were previously grown:

• carrot;
• corn;
• cucumbers;
• fennel;
• sunflower;
• garlic;
• all kinds of onions.

In October, for digging, 5-10 kilograms of humus (or 10-20 kilograms of manure), compost or high-moor peat are brought in for each square meter. And also add superphosphate at the rate of 30-40 g / m 2 and wood ash in the amount of 1-2 l / m 2.

Growing seedlings

Perhaps this is the most time-consuming and painstaking stage. Onion seeds are very small, and its seedlings are weak and thin. Not everyone has the patience and diligence to deal with them. But nothing is impossible. And, having received good results once, the gardener will repeat them again and again. First of all, choose the seeds you need varieties. In this case, preference should be given to well-known and reliable companies - Aelita, SeDek, Altai Seeds, Plasmas, etc.

Photo gallery: leek seeds

Seeds from plasmas have plasma pre-sowing treatment Altai Seeds is a seed producer for Siberia and the Urals SeDek has a reputation as a reliable seed producer Aelita Agrofirm produces high-quality seeds

When purchasing seeds, it is also necessary to pay attention to the period of their production. As mentioned above, they remain valid for no more than four years. If the seeds have not undergone pre-sowing treatment during production (this can be determined by the presence of a brightly colored pelleting shell), then they should be prepared independently before sowing. For this:

It is most convenient to grow seedlings in containers at least 15 centimeters deep. The sowing process looks like this:

1. A layer of sawdust 2-3 centimeters thick is laid at the bottom of the container, on top of which a nutrient substrate is poured. It is prepared from turf land, humus, peat and garden soil, taken in approximately equal parts.
2. The soil is plentifully watered, compacted and sown on its surface with leek seeds in rows, the interval between which is about five centimeters. The distance between the seeds in the row try to keep about one centimeter.
3. After sowing, the seeds are covered with a layer of sand 7-10 mm thick and moistened.
4. To create a greenhouse effect and high humidity in the container, it is covered with a film and transferred to a warm place. The optimum temperature for seed germination is 22-24°C.

When the first shoots begin to appear, the film must be removed and the container taken out to a room with a temperature of 18-20 ° C. At night, it is reduced to 10-12 ° C. At the same time, the plants should be illuminated for 10-12 hours, for which, at the first stages, the seedlings are illuminated with fluorescent lamps. It is necessary to water the plants regularly, preventing the soil from drying out. . To avoid the appearance of fungi, watering is carried out under the root. When the crops are thickened, the seedlings are thinned out, observing the interval between plants of about 10-20 mm. Elongated seedlings are periodically sheared, preventing it from growing above 10 centimeters.

With thickened crops, leek seedlings are thinned out, observing an interval between plants of about 10-20 mm

In the process of growing seedlings, it should be fed twice with nitroammophos or azophos. To do this, the fertilizer is dissolved in water at a rate of 2-3 grams per liter and the plants are watered at the rate of 1 l / m 2.

Planting seedlings in the ground, planting scheme

Young plants need to be hardened off before they get into the garden. For this purpose, 7-10 days before planting, they are taken out to the street or veranda, first for 2-3 hours, and then this time is gradually increased. To make it easier to remove plants from the soil and separate their roots, 1-2 days before planting, the seedlings are watered abundantly. In the garden, grooves are preliminarily prepared for planting plants with a depth of 15-20 centimeters at a distance of 40-50 centimeters between them. Plants are planted with an interval of 10-15 centimeters, taking into account the fact that subsequently the onion will be thinned out through one. As a result, the interval between the stems of an adult onion will be 20-30 centimeters. Before planting, the roots are cut by one third, and the leaves by half (but not shorter than 7-10 cm). The roots are covered with humus, deepening them by 2-3 cm.

Before planting leek seedlings, the roots are cut by one third, and the leaves by half (but not shorter than 7-10 cm)

Sowing leeks with seeds in open ground

To do this, the bed is prepared according to the usual rules. Prepared seeds (the preparation process was described above) are laid out on a pre-compacted bottom of the groove with an interval of 8-12 cm and covered with a thin layer of humus (0.5-1 cm), after which they are moistened and covered with a black film. When shoots appear, the film is removed and the bed is covered with agro-cloth (Spunbond, Lutrasil, etc.) with a density of 17-30 g / m 2. When using a denser material, arcs must be used. With the onset of stable heat, the shelter is removed.

Podzimny sowing of leek

To speed up the emergence of spring shoots, leeks can be sown before winter. With a favorable outcome, the seeds undergo hardening during the winter, hatch earlier in the spring and give healthy early shoots. For this purpose, they are sown in November or even December, when the air temperature drops to 0 ° C or slightly lower. If sown earlier, seedlings may appear that do not tolerate frost well and will probably die. The beds and grooves in them must be prepared in advance, and you also need to have a supply of loose humus for backfilling. Seeds are sown in the same way as in spring, sprinkled with humus and covered with a film. With the onset of frost, they cover the bed with snow, and if it is not there, then dry leaves, straw, etc. can be used. With the onset of spring and the disappearance of the threat of frost, the shelter is removed and replaced with agro-canvas. Further actions are the same as for spring sowing.

Leek care outdoors

This stage is much easier than growing seedlings and planting them. Timely implementation of the simple work listed below will provide the expected result.

Weeding, loosening and hilling

These operations are especially important at the first stage of onion life, when the stems and leaves are still thin and weak. Weeds at this time can negate all the efforts of the gardener applied to growing and planting seedlings, so they need to be removed regularly. Loosening is also a necessary technique in the first weeks after planting. At the same time, soil is gradually poured into the groove, and after filling it, they begin hilling for better leg growth and bleaching. In the process of growing leeks, 2-3 hillings are carried out.

Leek seedlings are planted in grooves, which are subsequently filled up, and then the plants are additionally spud in order to whiten the legs.

Watering and fertilizing

Leek is a moisture-loving plant. Since it is a biennial crop and its vegetation does not end in the first year of life, and its mass continues to grow until the onset of cold weather, the need for irrigation in the fall increases. Interruptions in watering and drying out of the soil are unacceptable. The optimal humidity for this crop is considered to be at the level of 70-75% of the FPV (maximum field moisture capacity).

The maximum field capacity is the maximum amount of water that the soil can contain when all its pores are filled. It is expressed as a percentage of absolutely dry soil.

Wikipedia

In practice, this means that the frequency of watering should be 1-2 times a week from the moment of planting until harvesting or leaving the onions in the winter. Of course, this indicator is adjusted in accordance with real weather conditions. When the stems and leaves grow enough and get stronger, you can apply mulching of the soil to prevent it from drying out and reduce the growth of weeds. To do this, you can use straw, hay, peat, humus, etc. After hilling, water the onions along the grooves between the rows.

Adult onions are watered along the grooves between the rows

During the season, onions should be fed 4 times. 20 days after planting the seedlings, a mixture of urea in the amount of 20 grams and monophosphate or potassium sulfate in the amount of 10 grams, dissolved in ten liters of water, is added. Consumption - 1 liter per 1 m 2. The next feeding is carried out at intervals of 3-4 weeks, using mullein (1: 10) or bird droppings (1: 20) diluted in water. And also at this time they sprinkle the earth with wood ash.

Leek is fed with diluted mullein or bird droppings.

Treatments for diseases and pests

This crop is rarely subject to disease or pest attack. Occasionally, a disease with peronosporosis and rust is possible. As a rule, this is the result of a violation of the rules of agricultural technology. For prevention purposes, you can use the biological preparation Fitosporin, which is also a good fertilizer. Treatments begin on the 20th day after planting the seedlings simultaneously with top dressing and repeat them with an interval of 2-3 weeks.

In order to prevent fungal diseases of leeks, you can use the biological preparation Fitosporin, which is also a good fertilizer

Of the pests, the most probable is the onion fly flying in the spring (in April - May). As a preventive measure, it is necessary to observe crop rotation, carry out pre-sowing disinfection of seeds, sow onions as early as possible and even before winter. It also helps to cover the beds with agro-cloth during the flight of the fly. In the same period, you can treat the leek with insecticides - Alatar, Iskra Double Effect, Fitoverm, or use folk remedies. You can read more about this problem in the article.

Harvest and storage

Early leek varieties begin to be harvested in August, mid-ripening - in September. And also at this time, you can thin out the beds with onions of late varieties. Such onions are poorly stored and are eaten immediately or used for canning. For long-term storage, only onions of late varieties are used - they are harvested in October - November, and in the southern regions this can also be done in December. In general, leeks can be harvested when the air temperature drops to -5 ° C. It is better to dig onions with a pitchfork, trying not to damage the underground part, after which they are laid along the furrows to dry.

After digging the leek, it is laid along the furrows to dry.

The dried leek is shaken off the ground, the roots are cut, leaving 1-2 centimeters, the damaged leaves are removed. After that, they put it in wooden or plastic boxes, tilting at an angle of 50-60 °. At the same time, each row is covered with a layer of wet sand 5-6 centimeters thick. Boxes with onions are placed in the basement, where they can be stored for up to six months, subject to the optimal heat and humidity conditions: temperature from -1 to +1 ° C; humidity - 85%. You can store onions on the balcony until the temperature there drops to -5 ° C. And also for quite a long time, the leek is stored in the refrigerator, previously wrapped in cling film.

For storage, the roots of leeks are covered with wet sand

Video: leek farming

Growing at home

Some grow leeks in an ordinary apartment. To do this, take the white part of a leek root purchased at the store and place it in a container of water. When choosing, preference is given to specimens with the longest roots, and water is poured to a height of 1 centimeter. Water should be changed daily, and it should not be chlorinated. On the 6th - 7th day, young leaves usually appear from the center of the stem. At this time, onions can be planted in a pot with loose nutrient soil. The whole process should take place on a well-lit windowsill. After about a month, the leaves are usually 30 centimeters long and can be eaten.

In about a month, leeks can be grown on the windowsill

Propagation of leeks

As already noted, the leek reproduces mainly by seeds and less often by sighting bulbs, popularly called bulbs. In order to obtain seeds, the leek is dug up and stored in the basement, returned to the soil in the spring, or left in the soil for overwintering. During the second year of the leek's vegetation, a tall straight flower arrow is formed, which ends with a spherical umbrella formed by small flowers. Leek flowering usually occurs in the middle - second half of summer. Flowers are arranged in several tiers. The duration of flowering of each of them is about 7 days, and in general, flowering lasts a month. In each of the seed boxes formed after flowering, there are 3-4 seeds, the size of which is smaller than that of ordinary onions. Usually the weight of 1000 leek seeds does not exceed 2-2.5 grams. They ripen in September. Seeds can only be obtained in warm regions - further north they do not have time to ripen. The seeds are removed from the boxes after they are dried by threshing in the same way as with ordinary onions.

Leek seeds are removed from the boxes after they have been dried by threshing in the same way as with ordinary onions.

Features of cultivation in the regions

Leek is grown in almost all regions where agriculture is carried out. There are no restrictions in this regard, as well as special techniques and methods inherent in a particular crop growing area. Depending on climatic conditions, only the timing of planting seedlings in open ground differs:

• in Siberia and the Urals, this is done in late May - early June;
• in the middle lane, including the Moscow region, seedlings are planted in the first half of May;
• in Belarus and Ukraine, in some years, they start planting already at the end of April, or traditionally do this during the May holidays;
• In the North Caucasus region and in the Crimea, seedlings are planted in the first half of April, or, in general, they are sown with seeds in open ground in mid-March.

In addition, there is a restriction on the cultivation of late varieties of leek in regions with a cold climate - there it simply does not have time to ripen and therefore early and mid-season varieties should be preferred.

It is very easy to grow leeks in your own land. 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 culture and follow agricultural technology, a positive result will be guaranteed.

Leek grows well and bears fruit in regions with a warm and temperate climate. This is a plant with a long growing season. Depending on the variety, onions of this species ripen 130-200 days after shoots appear. But you can eat a vegetable earlier, selectively digging out the largest specimens. Mature leek plants are able to withstand temperature drops, and even frosts. The growth of young bulbs in the first months is slow, they are demanding of heat and light.

Grow leeks outdoors. 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 give a full harvest.

In the middle lane and, especially in Siberia, leeks are cultivated only in seedlings. For example, in the Leningrad region, plants develop well when planted in greenhouses and hotbeds around the beginning - mid-April. In the north, seeds are sown early to obtain seedlings. Usually they do this in late February - early March. Grown in room conditions. Young onions are transplanted into the beds when it reaches 50-60 days, from the beginning to the middle of 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 vegetation period of plants to a more favorable period. In areas with short and cold summers, this is of great importance. As practice shows, a leek planted with seeds in the ground simply does not have time to ripen in such conditions. The gardener has to harvest ahead of time. As a result, the storage period of the vegetable is greatly reduced. Seedling leek ripens completely.

Variety selection and seed preparation 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 to pay attention to is the timing of the maturation of the culture. All varieties of leek can be divided into early, medium and late.

Early ripe leeks are also called summer leeks. 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. Usually such onions are immediately used for cooking or frozen for future use. It has a mild pleasant taste. Early ripe varieties can be grown without restrictions in any region. The most famous among gardeners include:

• Vesta;
• Goliath;
• Elephant's trunk;
• Columbus;
• Kilim.

Mid-season varieties need 150-180 days to mature. They are characterized by a darker leaf color, a large stalk, often with a pronounced bulb, and high resistance to infectious diseases. Such leeks are harvested in autumn, in September or October, stored for several months, used fresh and canned. Mid-season varieties grow well in the south, in the middle lane and in the north. Well-proven varieties on the beds:

• Tango;
• Jolite;
• Kamus;
• Bastion.

Late-ripening varieties - winter. They are intended for long-term storage, have a short dense stem, ripen 6 months after germination or more. They are distinguished by a large amount of vitamins and minerals, they tolerate temperature drops and even small frosts well. You can distinguish them in the beds by dark-colored leaves with a wax coating, which often have a sprawling shape. The most famous garden varieties include:

• leek Karantansky;
• Mercury;
• Autumn giant;
• Bandit;
• elephant;
• Asgeos.

They are grown only in areas with a long summer, harvested just before the frost.

Presowing 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. Let them rise a few days later, but they will not die if it gets cold outside.

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

Sowing leeks for seedlings

Getting leeks from seeds is quite simple. 2 months before the proposed planting of plants in the ground, convenient containers and fertile soil are prepared. Wooden boxes, plastic or peat cups, 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 fluid.

For growing leeks through seedlings, light, loose, moisture-intensive soil mixtures are used, which are rich in humus and other nutrients. They are prepared on their own or they buy ready-made soil mixture for vegetables in stores. Leek seedlings also grow well in special peat mixtures.

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

Onion seedlings need regular watering with warm water, but irrigation should be moderate. It is carried out as the top layers of the soil dry out. Over-watering causes rot and stretching of the onion, especially if it lacks light and is too warm.

For the entire period of cultivation, leek is 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 trace elements, saltpeter or organic matter. At this time, plants mainly need nitrogen to build green mass.

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

Site selection and garden preparation

To grow a large leek 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 site under the leek is chosen so that it is removed from deaf 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 gives high yields. You can not plant it in the garden, where previously there were garlic and onions, regardless of its variety. These plants share common pests and diseases. And they take the same nutrients from the soil.

Leek prefers to grow on fertile, moisture-intensive soils, preferably on light loams with soil acidity close to neutral. Before digging, the beds must be filled with organic matter. Leek responds well to top dressing of the following composition: 10-15 kg of humus are taken per 1 m 2 of area, as well as phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. It can be ash (2 cups) or superphosphate and potassium sulfate at the full rate.

With a lack of organic matter, it can be applied in the spring, scattering compost or humus on the beds before planting. It is not necessary to dig up the earth. The only exceptions are viscous floating soils.

Planting seedlings in open ground

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

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

At seedlings, before planting, the roots are shortened by a third of their length. Sometimes the tip of the feathers is also cut off. Seedlings are planted at the bottom of the furrow (hole). They dig another 5-7 cm into the ground. A distance of 10 to 25 cm is maintained between the leek in a row. Late leek varieties and those that have spreading leaves are planted less often. The earth around the stems is slightly tamped 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 from frost with a film. Remove it only when stable heat comes.

Leek care

Agrotechnics of leek is not particularly difficult. All the time during the growing season of plants, the beds are kept clean of weeds, the soil is often loosened between the rows. As the plants grow, they are spudded. They do this several times a season. First, earth is poured into the furrows, then ridges are formed near the stems. Thus, by the end of leek cultivation, 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 by the middle of the growing season. In the northern regions, watering of plants is carried out less often, the leek does not like an excess of moisture at the roots.

A good increase in yield is given by top dressing. Leek 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, top dressing with liquid mullein, a solution of bird droppings and ash will perfectly satisfy the need of plants for these elements.

The first time the leek is fertilized 2-3 weeks after its planting. Organic top dressing is applied between the rows, not in the furrows. The ash is simply mixed with the earth during hilling. Use 1 cup for every m 2 . From mineral fertilizers, ammonium or potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate are used. Feed the leek 3-4 times during the entire growing season. If the plants grow and develop normally, they are fed less frequently. On fertile soils, 2 top dressings are enough. A strong passion for nitrogen fertilizers can lead to a decrease in the keeping quality of the product after harvesting.

Expert opinion

Maria Vlasova

gardener

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

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