Leeks can be sown in plug trays or soil blockers with fantastic results. These small plugs and blocks are easy to handle and make transplanting so easy. Do you want to learn how to grow leeks from seed too?

The first leeks of the season have been transplanted, and I sit here feeling completely overwhelmed with big emotions and total cuteness overload. Honestly, tiny leek seedlings might just be the sweetest little things in the plant world. I just love to grow leeks!

My first leek sowing this year is the early variety ‘Atal’. It grows quickly and can produce tender baby leeks as early as spring in a protected environment. I sowed them in mid-January, and transplanted just ten short days later. Isn't that amazing?

The leek is an incredibly valuable vegetable to grow in the home garden, so I’d love to share a few tips to help you get started on growing leeks at home too. Generally speaking, it's easy to grow leeks — but there are definitely a few things to keep in mind along the way. Here, I’ll focus on sowing and share three essential tips.

Read more: Store leeks in the greenhouse

Just look at how beautiful the plants are! I can’t help but feel all warm inside while caring for them. Honestly, it makes me want to sow even more.

The plants are so cute! It’s fun to watch their development, and of course, I’m already looking forward to the harvest.

1. Use fresh seeds

Leek seeds (like all allium seeds) don’t store well and lose viability quickly. While seed packets often contain plenty of seeds, using leftovers from last year might disappoint you with poor germination rates. Invest in fresh seeds for leeks and other onions to ensure success!

2. Grow leeks early

Leeks take their time to grow, so don’t wait too long to sow. January is perfect for early varieties like ‘Atal’, and you can harvest your leek already in spring. February works well for later types, though you can sow even later if you’re okay with smaller plants. Start early if you want big, robust leeks ready for winter.

3. Sow in clusters

Leek roots are delicate and don’t thrive in heavy and wet soil, especially when you grow individual seeds. Sowing several seeds together, either in plug trays or small pots, creates a better balance in the soil and keeps moisture levels in check, as the little seedlings work together. This method significantly improves survival and growth!

Read more: Plant leek in dry soil

My first leek was sown in a plug tray alongside other early vegetables destined for the hotbed, polytunnel, and beds outside.

Why I Grow ‘Atal’

This year’s first sowing was done in a plug tray in mid-January, alongside some other early crops I plan on putting in my hotbed, polytunnel, and outdoor beds. Just ten days later, the first seedlings were transplanted.

Leek ‘Atal’ is one of my favorite varieties because it grows so quickly and is ready to harvest in spring or early summer as a tender baby leek. If you sow it in early summer, you will get smaller but delicious leeks by autumn. If you’ve never tasted butter-fried baby leeks, I hope this is the year you try it. It’s absolutely divine!

I also grow the classic variety ‘Blauwgroene Winter’. This hardy, late-season leek is perfect for overwintering, either directly in the garden or stored in a pot in the polytunnel. It’s reliable and low-maintenance, producing sturdy leeks that can grow as thick as an arm in a warm and sunny summer.

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Look at this majestic leek! With the help of good summer weather and plenty of fertilizer in the soil, a leek can grow as thick as my forearm. That’s a lot of food! The variety in the picture is ‘Blauwgroene Winter’.

It's such a joy to grow leeks! A single seed packet costs about the same as two store-bought leeks, but with some soil and care, you’ll have dozens of your own to harvest. Why not sow some leek seeds today? Before you know it, you’ll be transplanting, harvesting, and feeling incredibly proud of growing them from seed.

Happy sowing!
/Sara Bäckmo