Leek Cultivation ; A complete Farming Guide

February 27, 2021 Agrovista

Leek Cultivation: A Complete Farming Guide

Leek ( Allium Porrum L.) is a non-bulb-forming member of the Amaryllidaceae family and is grown for its blanched stem and leaves. its mild flavor is an alternative to the onion It is biennially planted with a thick, juicy stem that can be eaten raw alone or mixed in salads and also cooked as a flavoring in soups and stews. It is not grown in India on a commercial scale but is a favorite vegetable in a kitchen garden.

Table of Contents

Leek is believed to be a native of the Mediterranean region.

Nutritive Value of Leek Crop;

The nutritive value of leek in 100 g edible portion is given below:

Component	Values	Component	Values
Moisture	78.9 g	Vitamin A	30 IU
Carbohydrates	5 g	Vitamin C	23 mg
Fiber	1.3 g	Thiamine	0.23 mg
Fat	0.1 g	Calcium	50 mg
Protein	1.8 g	Iron	2.3 mg
Calories	77 Kcal	Phosphorus	70 mg

Climatic Adaptability for Leek Cultivation;

Leek is well adaptable to cool moderate climates and it can be grown around the year

Soil & its Preparation for Leek Cultivation;

Sandy loam and silty loam soils with a pH range between 6.5 to 7 are best suited for the Ieek crop. The land should be prepared thoroughly.

Important Varieties of Leek Crop;

1) Main fall varieties (August to October):
American Flag, Jolant, Kilima, King Richard, Primor.

2) Late fall-winter (October to December):
Derrrick, Electra, Goldina, Goliath, Kilima, Tivi, and Wintereuzen.

3) Overwinter (spring harvest):
Carina, Conqueror (moderate bulbing), Eskimo, and Siberia.

Sowing of Leek Seeds

(a) Sowing time. The seed is sown from the end of September to October in plains while in hilly area it should be planted in the month of March – April
(b) Seed rate. The seed rate is 3.0 to 3.5 kg per acre.
(c) Method of sowing. Leek is grown either by direct seeding or transplanting the seedlings. Direct seedling resulted in a higher total yield and was considerably cheaper. For both methods, the earlier sowing date produced considerably higher yields and larger plants. Seedlings are transplanted at a spacing of 30 x 30 cm.

Manuring;

Apply 50 to 60 Q. of well-rotted FYM along with 34 kg nitrogen, 14 kg phosphoric acid, and 40 kg potassium per acre.

Intercultural operation

Weeding and blanching is an important operation of lock cultivation. The quality of the leaf base can be improved by blanching, which should be started only after the plants are well grown. The plants are blanched by earthing them up with soil.

Irrigation

Irrigation should be given as and when needed. Overhead sprinkler irrigation is good for the leek.

Harvesting of Leek Crop;

Leeks harvesting depends on the type of variety planted and the prevailing market conditions. Small leeks harvesting can be started from the month of August. As leek does not form the bulb or even go dormant at the time of fall it continues with its slow growth that’s why the harvesting of leek crop is highly flexible.

The yield of Leek;

The average yield is 130 to 140 Q/Acre

Explore Further;

Cultivation of Onion

Cultivation of Garlic

One thought on “Leek Cultivation ; A complete Farming Guide”

zoritoler imol

September 24, 2023 at 1:28 pm

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