Grow by Season

When to Plant Leeks

Start leeks indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your last frost, then plant them out from 3 weeks before to 1 week after your last frost.

Leeks at a glance

Start indoors
10 to 12 weeks before your last frost
Plant out
from 3 weeks before to 1 week after your last frost
Time to harvest
90 to 120 days from planting out
Harvest lasts
about 20 weeks
Spacing
9 per square foot
Frost
Takes hard frosts

Growing leeks

Leeks are slow but hardy and easy. Start them early, give them rich soil and steady water, and they stand in the garden for months, so you can dig a few at a time from late summer into winter.

Dates by hardiness zone

Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.

When to plant leeks in each USDA hardiness zone
ZoneStart indoorsPlant outHarvest
Zone 3aMar 5–19May 7 – Jun 4Aug 5 – Oct 26
Zone 3bFeb 22 – Mar 8Apr 26 – May 24Jul 25 – Nov 6
Zone 4aFeb 17 – Mar 3Apr 21 – May 19Jul 20 – Nov 9
Zone 4bFeb 13–27Apr 17 – May 15Jul 16 – Nov 12
Zone 5aFeb 8–22Apr 12 – May 10Jul 11 – Nov 16
Zone 5bFeb 6–20Apr 10 – May 8Jul 9 – Nov 21
Zone 6aFeb 4–18Apr 8 – May 6Jul 7 – Nov 24
Zone 6bJan 29 – Feb 12Apr 2–30Jul 1 – Nov 18
Zone 7aJan 22 – Feb 5Mar 26 – Apr 23Jun 24 – Nov 11
Zone 7bJan 11–25Mar 15 – Apr 12Jun 13 – Oct 31
Zone 8aJan 4–18Mar 8 – Apr 5Jun 6 – Oct 24
Zone 8bDec 23 – Jan 6Feb 24 – Mar 24May 25 – Oct 12
Zone 9aDec 8–22Feb 9 – Mar 9May 10 – Sep 27
Zone 9bNov 9–23Jan 11 – Feb 8Apr 11 – Aug 29
Zone 10aNov 1–15Jan 3–31Apr 3 – Aug 21
Zones 10b–11bFrost is rare here, so grow leeks in the cooler months, from fall to early spring.

Good neighbors

Keep apart from

Questions about leeks

When are leeks ready?

Whenever they are thick enough to use, from about an inch across. Dig them with a fork, since the roots hold on firmly.

Can leeks stay in the ground over winter?

In many places, yes. Leeks take frost well, so dig them as needed through fall and into winter; a mulch helps in colder areas.

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