It’s easy to get fresh leeks from a vegetable market, but regrowing them isn’t too hard.
With potting soil mix, a container and regular watering you can easily grow leeks from scraps or leftovers, so why to spend on something which you can regrow in your backyard.
The white and light green part (often called stem) is edible but the dark part is discarded.
Read on this article you’ll find super easy way to regrow from your kitchen scraps.
How to Grow Leeks from Scraps?
Cousin of green onions, it can be expensive to buy leeks.
But not for gardeners; with no special tools you can resprout from already harvested leeks.
When you slice leeks make sure you leave the base root end an inch more.
Instead of throwing the root end, save it while you enjoy your favourite recipe with the edible part of the leek.
Also Read: How to Grow Turnips from Scraps?
Step-by-Step Guide to Regrow Leeks at Home
The first and important step is cutting the leek. As mentioned above, save root end to resprout.
#1 Place the root end in a small jar of water
Take the leek cuttings and place in a small bowl or jar of water, in a way that roots are immersed in the water but the white top doesn’t submerge in water completely.
If you’re planning to regrow more than one leek, then you must take different small jars filled with water to resprout leeks.
Within 3 days or less you’ll find the leek cutting is sprouting again.
Along with new root production, leeks are now ready for you plant in the container.
What happens if you place the root end for more than needed in water?
The root starts rotting.
If you see the top layer of root end started rotting, immediately remove that layer and shift your plant to a container filled with the best potting soil.
Also Read: How to: Growing Green Onions from Scraps?
#2 Regrow Leeks in Soil
Nearly after 5-10 days in the water, you’ll find dark green shoots appear.
If you see dark green stem growing on the root end, then it’s time to plant.
Take a medium sized container filled with your favourite potting soil. Or you can try homemade by adding layer of garden soil, vermicompost and peat moss to the container with drainage holes.
If you see the container has large drainage holes, then you can cover them with a newspaper. This will ensure the water flow will not wash away the soil.
Using a wooden stick or any tool make 2.5 inches deep hole in the centre of the pot.
Water and allow it to grow naturally.
If you’re growing leeks first time, then I think it’s best to understand the soil type, watering and sunlight required for this vegetable.
Also Read: 13 Easy Vegetables to Grow All Year Round
Soil Requirement to Grow Leeks
Leeks thrive well in compost rich soil.
So, you must add 1/3 of vermicompost, 1/3 of sand or coco peat and 1/3 of garden soil. As this plant grows in well-drained soil, you can add coconut coir.
The growing medium should allow the excess water to flow easily and at the same time must be able to retain moisture.
According to University of Minnesota, potting soil for leeks must have a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
Fertilizers
You can use fertilizers to improve growing of stems and leaves.
Add dry compost/manure at the surface of the soil and cover it with a layer of garden soil.
Fresh manure may attract bacteria and it can damage the growth of your vegetable plant.
Make sure your fertilizer is free from weed-killer, because it may kill your plant as well.
Also Read: How to Grow Cabbage from Scraps?
How Often to Water Leeks?
Water twice in a week, depending on climatic condition of your region you can regulate the watering frequency.
Excess watering will leave the roots to rot. So, it’s important that you make sure the soil is dry (though not bone dry) while watering.
To check the moisture, use your finger to see the moisture on surface of the soil or through drainage hole.
Sunlight
This vegetable plant needs full exposure to sunlight. Atleast 6 hours of bright sunlight is needed for better yield.
If you’re growing leeks in a container, then the location in your backyard or balcony should get enough light so that the plant can survive.
Also Read: How to Grow Zucchini from Scraps?
When to harvest regrowing leeks at home?
Leeks are a bit wider than green onions.
- A mature leek will have more than 1 inch wide and 3 inches tall white shaft. Also, the top part of the leek will be in dark green color.
- Unlike onions, tops of leeks don’t dry after maturing.
- Once, the white shaft gets 3 inches or more; then it’s time to harvest.
Gently pull the leeks or dig to remove the leeks with roots.
Slice and wash the leeks to remove soil.
How to Grow Leeks from Seeds?
If you’re looking to start growing leeks through seeds, you can do it by sowing leeks seeds in coconut coir.
- In a tray fill coconut coir and sprinkle seeds.
- Cover the seeds using thin layer of coconut coir.
- Water them generously and leave it to germinate.
- Within 5-12 days you can expect germination.
- Once the seedlings reach 6-8 inches height you can shift the seedlings to container with potting soil mix.
Can you regrow leeks in water?
You can resprout leeks using a small jar filled with water.
Once, dark green stem is appeared. Shift the root end to soil.
But, to fully grow the leeks it’s easy to grow them in a container filled with potting mix.
However, you can grow leeks hydroponically. Check the details here.
Can you eat regrown leeks?
Leeks grown from scraps are similar to fresh leeks that you brought from the vegetable market.
Identical to green onions and celery leeks can be regrown at home from kitchen leftovers.
Why my leeks growing only green and not white stalks?
When the plant gets exposed to sunlight, then it turns green. So, most gardeners blanch (cover the stem) the base of plant to increase white stalks.
You can use soil or newspaper to cover the base the leek plant.
Benefits of Regrowing leeks
Growing from scraps will reduce the waste from your kitchen.
Apart from this, you can consume the organic home grown vegetables that are free from chemical fertilizers.
Not just going easy on your pocket, regrown leeks at home can be a great hobby.
Growing vegetables from scraps is damn easy and demands very less time.
Having an edible display in your home leaves great impact on your lifestyle. It adds aesthetic look for your space.
And most important! If you’re looking to start gardening, then scraps are easily affordable way to commence your gardening experience.
You don’t have to worry about getting costly seeds or think about seedlings dying.
Even if the plant fails to yield you don’t lose anything, but left with an experience.
So, not just these you can have plenty of reasons to start growing veggies from leftovers.
How to Take Care of Leeks?
You can easily regrow leeks, as they need little care.
Three important aspects for a healthy plant are:
- Soil
- Watering frequency
- Sunlight
If you can provide adequate amount of water, fertilizers and sunlight, then growing leeks can be damn simple.
Growing medium plays vital role in plant growth, potting mixture you add in your container must include vermicompost, sand and gardening soil as mentioned above.
Leeks have shallow root system, so enough supple of water will help them to produce good yield.
However, overwatering or Underwatering can make the leaves drooping and kill the plant.
Leeks need 6-8 hours of bright sunlight exposure. If the container is located in shaded spot, relocate it to a place where the plant can get full sun exposure.
Plant needs NPK to grow its root system, stem and increase the yield.
You can provide organic fertilizers by side dressing the plant.
Fresh manure may attract fungal or bacterial infection. So, gardening experts recommend dry manure to container gardening.
Pests and diseases of leeks are similar to onions. Look for bugs or insects on the plant and use natural chemical free pesticides.
Hope you enjoyed reading this write-up and share your experience of growing leeks from scraps in comments.