«Fragrant» - Organic Chinese Leek Seeds

Organic Chinese Leek «Fragrant» (Garlic Chives)

Edible Flowers: Pull the florets apart and sprinkle on salads, dips, sauces, soups, stir-fries, and pizza. Great as an addition to potato salad. Flavor is of mild garlic.
 

How to Grow

Plant leeks in a sunny spot in soil that is fertile and well-drained. Leeks thrive in traditional garden beds, raised beds, or even in tall containers, so choose whatever works best for you. Space leeks 6 inches apart when planting.

Leeks need two things to thrive: lots of nitrogen and consistent soil moisture. If possible, add compost or organic fertilizer to the leek bed the season prior to planting. Otherwise, work make a point to work organic matter into the ground a few days before planting.

To produce a succulent white stem, leeks must be blanched — in other words, covered or hidden from the sun. To do this, plant leeks into deep holes. (Deeper planting yields a more drought-resistant plant, too.) Create a narrow trench 6 to 8 inches deep, then tuck seedlings into the trench, adding soil back so it comes up to the base of the first green leaf. Water well.

After planting, mulch the bed with straw or some other organic material to help soil retain moisture. Soak newly planted leeks with a liquid fertilizer such as Bonnie Herb & Vegetable Plant Food. Water leeks as needed until plants are established. After that, plants require an inch of water a week, either through rainfall or irrigation. Inconsistent moisture yields tough stems. Continue fertilizing plants with liquid plant food every week or so during the growing season.

As leeks grow, mound the soil from the trench around stems, beginning when stems are 1 inch thick.