🧅 When to Plant Leek

When should I plant leek?

Plant leek outdoors 4 weeks before last frost. For a head start, start seeds indoors 12 weeks before your area's last frost date.

Is leek frost sensitive?

Leek can tolerate light frost, surviving temperatures as low as 28°F. This makes it a great candidate for early spring or fall planting when other crops can't go out yet.

What temperature does leek need?

Leek grows best between 45°F and 75°F. It can survive down to 28°F, but growth slows significantly below 45°F. It prefers cool weather and may bolt or stop producing if summer heat arrives early.

How long does leek take to grow?

Leek typically takes 100–130 days from transplant (or direct sow) to first harvest. This is a long-season crop — start seeds early enough to ensure harvest before your area's first fall frost.

Should I start leek seeds indoors?

Yes — start leek seeds indoors 12 weeks before your area's last expected frost date. This gives seedlings time to develop strong roots before outdoor conditions are ready.

Is it too cold to plant leek?

It is too cold to plant Leek outdoors when nighttime temperatures are falling below 28°F. While Leek can tolerate temperatures as low as 28°F, growth will be slow until nights consistently exceed 45°F. Use CanIPlant to check your local 7-day forecast and get a real-time answer for your ZIP code.

Is it too hot to plant leek?

Leek starts to struggle when temperatures climb above 75°F. As a cool-season crop, Leek is especially heat-sensitive — high temperatures cause bolting, bitter flavor, or complete crop failure. Avoid planting in the peak of summer and opt for spring or fall instead. CanIPlant checks your local forecast highs to flag this automatically.

Any tips for growing leek?

Long-season crop. Start indoors early. Very cold hardy.