When to Plant Leek in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
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This Leek guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar, Aug to Jan
- Days to harvest
- about 13 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 15 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.5
Leeks are the gentle giant of the allium family. Milder than onions, easier than garlic, and more cold-hardy than both.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
- Jan S
- Feb -
- Mar T
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug S
- Sep S
- Oct S/T
- Nov T
- Dec T
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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How to Grow Leek in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Leeks are heavy feeders that benefit from deeply dug beds with generous compost and aged manure. Prefer neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Add lime to acidic soils.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun (6+ hours). Tolerates partial shade better than most alliums, but stems will be thinner in shade.
- Spacing
- 15cm apart, 40cm between rows
- Watering
- Consistent moisture throughout growth. Water deeply once or twice per week. Leeks are more drought-tolerant than onions but produce thicker stems with consistent water. Reduce watering slightly in winter when growth slows.
- Good companions
- Onion, Carrot, Radish, Beetroot, Celery
- Keep away from
- Peas (Listed as a bad companion for leeks; no reason is given.)
- Grow before it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
- Grow after it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Give the bed 3 turns before alliums go back in. Onion, garlic and leek like a lean bed and clean up after the heavy feeders.
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Leek
Recommended Varieties
- Musselburgh
- London Flag
- King Richard
Key Challenges
- Short warm season for establishment
- Hard frosts may damage foliage but stems survive
Pro Tips
- Start seed indoors September-October, transplant December-January
- Leeks survive hard frosts and remain harvestable through winter
- Mulch heavily (10cm+) around plants in late autumn for insulation
Pests and problems for Leek in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Leek
When ready: Stems are at least 2cm diameter (pencil-thick minimum, but 3-5cm is better). Can be harvested at any size from baby leeks (1cm diameter, 10 weeks) to full-size (5cm+, 5-6 months). No rush. Leeks hold well in the ground.
How to harvest: Loosen soil alongside the leek with a garden fork, then lever out. Do not pull straight up. The stem may snap. Trim roots and damaged outer leaves. Wash thoroughly between sheaths (soil and insects hide in the layers).
Storing and preserving leek
How to keep it
- Freezing (Most Practical Long-Term). Clean, trim, and slice leeks into rings. Blanch 2 minutes. Ice bath. Drain, spread on tray, freeze until solid, then bag. Or sauté first in butter, cool, and freeze in portions for soup. Keeps: 12 months frozen.
- Dehydrating. Clean and slice into thin rings. Spread on dehydrator trays. Dry at 55C for 6-10 hours until crisp. Crush or leave as rings for soup and stock. Keeps: 12 months in airtight container.
- Leek and Potato Soup (Freezer-Ready). Sauté sliced leeks in butter. Add diced potato and stock. Simmer until soft. Blend. Cool and freeze in portions. The classic method for preserving a leek glut. Keeps: 6 months frozen.
- In-Ground Storage (Best Method). Leave leeks in the ground and harvest as needed. They hold for months in cool weather. In cold climates, mound mulch or soil around the stems for insulation. This is the simplest and best preservation method. Keeps: Months in the ground (until they bolt in spring).
- Pickled Leeks. Slice young leeks into 5cm lengths. Blanch 1 minute. Pack into sterilised jars with thyme sprigs and peppercorns. Pour over hot brine (1 cup white wine vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt). Seal. Keeps: 3-6 months refrigerated.
What leek costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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Common Questions About Leek
When do you plant leek in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Feb to Jul
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to May, Aug to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Mar, Aug to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to May
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Nov
Can you grow leek all year round in Canberra?
No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Jan, Mar, Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Leek in Canberra?
Sow in trays from late winter to spring, or in January for a late crop, and plant out when seedlings are pencil thin. Leeks stand well through hard frosts and can be pulled through autumn and winter.
What soil temperature do Leek need?
Leek germinate best when soil temperature is between 13°C and 24°C.
How do I know when Leek are ready to harvest?
Stems are at least 2cm diameter (pencil-thick minimum, but 3-5cm is better). Can be harvested at any size from baby leeks (1cm diameter, 10 weeks) to full-size (5cm+, 5-6 months). No rush. Leeks hold well in the ground.
What are the best Leek varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Musselburgh, London Flag, King Richard.
What grows well with Leek?
Good companion plants for Leek include: Onion, Carrot, Radish, Beetroot, Celery.
Are leek salt tolerant?
Only a little. Leek are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.