Leeks' mild but rich onion flavor and cold tolerance make them a favorite in home kitchens and gardens. This onion relative has compact stems that thicken but do not form bulbs like onions. 'King Richard' produces extra long white stems early. Enjoy fresh, grilled, sautéed, and added to soups and stews. Cold tolerant to 20°F and can be left in the garden for an extended harvest.

Days to Maturity: 75 days

Family: Alliaceae

Native: Eastern Mediterranean region

Hardiness: Biennial grown as an annual

Exposure: Full sun

Plant Dimensions: 18"–30" tall. Under optimal growing conditions, the white part of 'King Richard' can be 12" long, making the entire plant up to 30" long.

Variety Info: Leek plants resemble a long, fat green onion. The white lower portion has a mild onion flavor while the green tops are stronger tasting. Cold hardy to 20°F.

Attributes: Frost Tolerant

When to Sow Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date for late summer harvest, late spring for fall harvest, and in Mild Climates, late summer for the following spring harvest. Soil temperature should be at least 40°F, ideally 60°–85°F.

When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 8 to 10 weeks before your average last frost date.

Days to Emerge: 7–14 days

Seed Depth: ¼

Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 6"

Row Spacing: 12"

Thinning: When 1" tall, thin to 1 every 6"

Harvesting: Harvest leeks when tops are 15"–18" tall, and shanks are at least 1" in diameter. Use a garden fork to gently lift and loosen soil under the leeks, and then pull them up by hand. Leeks tolerate temperatures as low as 20°F, and can therefore be harvested even after a few freezes, which enhances flavor.