Tips on growing leeks in Canberra

Leeks are quite easy to grow and are quite hardy, so if you can dedicate some space then you should have a go as the days become longer and the temperature warms. They have a long history, having been grown in Egypt for more than 4000 years. They are grown extensively in the cooler northern regions of France and Belgium.

One special feature is that, compared with many other vegetables that have a short harvest period, leeks can be harvested over quite a long period. When mature, they can be allowed to stay in the garden and they will keep in good condition for many weeks.

They also produce a very ‘matted’ root system which actually benefits the structure of the soil.

Plant the tall, slimmer leek varieties for late summer and autumn use. Plant the shorter, fatter, longer maturing varieties to get you through next winter. So plant out your first seeds now into seed raising trays to get underway. It will probably take 8 to 10 weeks before they have reached a sufficient size to be transplanted into the garden. The seedlings should be 16-20 centimetres tall when they are planted out.

Leeks are very suited to being a follow-on crop to a winter crop of broad beans or shelling peas, as they do like to be growing in moderately rich soil. Alternatively, you can dig in some nitrogen-rich organic fertiliser when you are preparing the garden bed. Make sure that the garden bed drains well as they will be growing in that location for at least six months.

To produce leeks with white stems, they will need to have soil hilled up around their stems to prevent the stems from producing chlorophyll. This is done simply by planting the leeks into a trench, then backfilling as plants grow.

Space leeks out at 12-15 centimetres apart to give the roots plenty of space to spread and to allow the plants to grow to maximum size. Allow 25 cm between the rows. Make sure that they are well-watered during the growing season but do not allow them to be waterlogged. Mulch well before the summer days arrive.

Musselburg is the "grand old leek of Scotland" (as described in the 1864 NSW Horticultural Magazine. It is very tender and has a mild flavour. Carentan is the well known old French variety which produces very large stems up to 20 centimetres in height. It is fast growing and tolerates very cold nights. Autumn Giant is another large, long stem variety.

Varna is a tall and slender bunching leek. It grows more quickly than most other varieties and produces a clump of stems rather than just one large stem. This can be used as an alternative to spring onions in salads and is delicious when lightly steamed.

Leeks are best used as soon as they are harvested, although they can be stored for several weeks in the refrigerator. This vegetable needs to be really well cooked until it is truly soft.

So, having a home grown supply will give you the best of both worlds. You can pick smaller stemmed leeks to use as a substitute for onions but you are aiming for the wonderful, thick stemmed final product.

Owen Pidgeon runs the Loriendale Organic Orchard near Hall.

Leek and bacon tart

200 gms bacon pieces
grapeseed oil
4 leeks, white stems
40 gm butter
500 gms shortcrust pastry
4 large free range eggs
120 ml milk
150 ml cream

Heat the oil in a pan and brown the bacon pieces, then set aside. Spoon the butter into the pan and add thinly sliced leek stems. Cook for 15 minutes on low heat until they become soft. Set aside and let cool. Roll out the pastry to 4mm and line a 25 centimetre flan baking dish. Prick the pastry with a fork and spread the bacon pieces and leeks over the pastry. Whisk the eggs, milk and cream together in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the mixture slowly over the leeks and bacon. Preheat oven to 220 degrees. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the filling is well set.

This week in the garden

• Plant a selection of Chinese leafy greens such as pak choi and mizuna as well as salad bowl and cos lettuces into seed raising punnets for early spring plantings.
• Take the time to plant selected capsicum and tomato varieties into seed raising trays and germinate indoors, in a warm sunny location.
• Sow rows of shelling peas and sugar snap peas directly into your garden beds.
• Prepare a garden bed for planting out a first spring crop of carrots. Hill up but do not add in any fresh manures as this will cause the carrot roots to fork.
• Spring clean the garden area before the warmer weather makes time more difficult. Repair any loose timber frames and sharpen garden tools.