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When to plant leek

Leek timing, counted from your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Hill soil around stems for longer white shanks.

Seasoncool-season, hardy to frost
Start indoors12 weeks before to 10 weeks before the last frost
Transplant4 weeks before to 2 weeks before the last frost
Soil temperature to germinate35°F or warmer
Days to maturity100–120 days from transplant
Spacing6–6 in apart, rows 18–24 in apart
Seed depth0.25 in
Row of blue-green leeks in a garden bed
Photo: Lucyin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Example dates

PlaceDates
Austin, TX (78701)Start seeds indoors: Dec 16–30; Transplant: Feb 10–24
Atlanta, GA (30303)Start seeds indoors: Dec 30–Jan 13; Transplant: Feb 24–Mar 10
St. Louis, MO (63101)Start seeds indoors: Jan 7–21; Transplant: Mar 4–18
Chicago, IL (60614)Start seeds indoors: Jan 16–30; Transplant: Mar 13–27
Denver, CO (80202)Start seeds indoors: Feb 5–19; Transplant: Apr 2–16
Seattle, WA (98101)Start seeds indoors: Dec 19–Jan 2; Transplant: Feb 13–27

Every ZIP page has its own dates. Find your ZIP.

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Sources

Summarized in our own words from public extension publications.

All vegetables · Your ZIP's planting calendar