Cultivation

Open-field leek cultivation

Allium porrum L.

Growing leeks in open fields requires a long growing season and multiple hillings to produce a high-quality blanched stem.

In the reference 48 varieties crop Leek, where this is mentioned in the description.

For leeks, open-field cultivation is characterized by a long growing season of 130 to 210 days, making the transplanting method a priority for temperate climates. Direct seeding is possible mainly in southern regions, although breeding efforts are focused on developing varieties suitable for direct-seeded cultivation in central regions.

A critically important agrotechnical practice is repeated hilling, carried out 4–5 times per season at intervals of 10–15 days. This is necessary to restrict light access to the lower part of the plant and form a long, blanched pseudostem, which constitutes the crop's commercial value.

The crop is demanding regarding soil fertility and light exposure, as shading leads to undesirable stem elongation. At the same time, the leek is noted for its high cold hardiness: late-maturing varieties are capable of withstanding frosts and remaining in the soil until late autumn.

General information about the subject — on the page Open field.

Sources8

Varieties of Leek mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.