Sow the leek seeds outdoors from mid-March to mid-April.
Scatter seeds in 1.25cm (1/2in) deep drills (shallow grooves made in the surface of the soil) with 25cm (12in) between individual rows (drills).
Sow the leek seeds sparingly and, once they have germinated and the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them to around 5cm (2in) apart - simply pull any unwanted seedlings out of the ground using a finger and thumb.
Afterwards, firm the soil around the remaining seedlings and lightly water them.
The seeds are best sown in a seed bed (a corner of the vegetable plot used for raising young plants) and then transplanted to their main growing site a couple of months later.
The seed bed must be located in a sunny spot and have a well-drained soil.
The best way to mark out an individual row is to stretch a length of string between two pegs. This can then be used as a guide for creating a drill - use a stick or the back of a rake to make the groove in the soil.
Next, water the base of the drill and sow the seeds inside. After sowing, lightly cover the seeds with soil and label the row.
If you do not have room outside, leeks can also be sown in seed trays filled with seed compost and left to develop in a cold frame (glass-covered concrete or wooden boxes, usually about knee-high) or greenhouse until transplanting time.
The leek seedlings (young plants) should be transplanted from the seed bed (or seed tray) to their main growing site in late May or June.
The site should be sunny and the soil well-drained. Alternatively, you can purchase young leek plants from the garden centre.
Individual leek seedlings are best planted 15cm (6in) apart in each row with 25cm (12in) between rows.
The seedlings should be transplanted when they are 20cm (8in) tall and about the thickness of a pencil. Mark out a row with a length of string and use a dibber (a pointed wooden or metal hand tool - a pencil will do just as well in soft soil) to create 15cm (6in) deep holes in the ground.
Hold a leek plant inside a hole and then use a watering can to fill the hole with water - this will wash soil around the roots and base of the stem to settle the plant into the ground. Do not fill the holes directly with soil.
The first leeks (early varieties) can be lifted from August to November - these usually have tall and slim stems.
Mid-season leeks will be ready from November to January and late-season varieties from December through to the following spring - both tend to produce short and fat stems.
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