When to Plant Leek in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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This Leek guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Aug to May
- 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 Cool Temperate
- Jan S/T
- Feb S/T
- Mar S/T
- Apr T
- May T
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug S
- Sep S
- Oct S/T
- Nov S/T
- Dec S/T
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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How to Grow Leek in Cool Temperate 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.
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Leek
Recommended Varieties
- Musselburgh
- London Flag
- Autumn Giant
- King Richard
Key Challenges
- Slow growth in winter (but leeks tolerate this)
- Slugs in wet conditions
- White rot in some soils
Pro Tips
- Melbourne is excellent leek country. They love cool, moist conditions
- Sow Musselburgh in February-March for winter-spring harvest
- Leeks handle frost well. The cold actually improves flavour
Pests and problems for Leek in Cool Temperate
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 Melbourne?
No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to May, Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Leek in Melbourne?
Raise in trays and plant out at pencil thickness into deep holes or trenches to blanch the stems. Leeks stand well in the ground through the cold months.
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 Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Musselburgh, London Flag, Autumn Giant, 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.