Thursday, September 30, 2010

Leek - The Onion that grows Up - not Out

 
[Attachment(s) from rlmader1 included below]

If you have never grown Leek, they are very unusual plants for someone who
normally plants just the old favorites.
You know, Tomatoes, Cabbages, Radishes, Green Peppers, etc. However, I would
encourage you to give them a try. Not only are they handy in the kitchen,
they actually are beautiful plants when planted in bunches and allowed to
bloom.

The blooms also attract lots of bees to your garden who help pollinate your
vegetables. Everything from Bumble Bees (Gentle Giants) to busy, busy, busy
Honey Bees. And an occasional Wasp. I found that as long as you don't bother
them, you can work around them as they do their work and they don't even
seem to notice. However, of course, if you have a severe reaction to bee
stings, I wouldn't encourage such a person to work around flowering plants
at all.

Leek are very hardy plants. Practically impossible to kill by cold and are
very disease resistant. I grew mine from seedlings that I grew myself. Just
seed them in a light mix of soil. When they sprout, move them into good
lighting. Let them grow another week or two and set them out about 4 inches
apart in good garden soil. They grow faster than ordinary onions and can be
set out in the fall. They will die down in the cold but if you throw a
little straw over them, the will start growing again near the end of
February in South Central Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

You can start harvesting them for use in Stews, Stir-Fries, Roasts, etc.
Anywhere, actually where you might want to enhance your cooking with a
little Onion flavoring. Just cut the root end off and keep chopping up the
stalk even into the green stalk if they are still young.

I am still learning all about Leek. If you have some notes to add, just put them in the comment section

Bob
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Attachment(s) from rlmader1

1 of 1 Photo(s)