root · transplant
Leek: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating leek a few times a week needs about 23 plants in ~12 sq ft, worth about $16 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$2.00/lb retail — an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 6 | ~3 sq ft | ~8 | ~$4 |
| 2 people | 12 | ~6 sq ft | ~16 | ~$8 |
| 4 people | 23 | ~12 sq ft | ~31 | ~$16 |
| 6 people | 35 | ~18 sq ft | ~47 | ~$25 |
Spacing
6" in row · 12" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
75 from transplant (120 from seed)
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Feb 20 – Apr 3 | Jun 2 – Jul 21 |
| Zone 4 | Feb 15 – Mar 29 | Jun 12 – Jul 31 |
| Zone 5 | Feb 5 – Mar 19 | Jun 22 – Aug 10 |
| Zone 6 | Jan 26 – Mar 9 | Jul 2 – Aug 20 |
| Zone 7 | Jan 11 – Feb 22 | Jul 12 – Aug 30 |
| Zone 8 | Jan 1 – Feb 11 | Aug 2 – Sep 20 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 1 – Jan 9 | Aug 22 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 1 – Jan 1 | Sep 1 – Oct 20 |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 0.35 lbs per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.35 lb).
Watch for
Onion thrips · Onion maggot · Downy mildew — the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with carrot, onion-bulb, garlic. Keep away from pole-bean, bush-bean.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
61 kcal · 1.8 g fiber · 12 mg vitamin C · 180 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code — not just your zone — in about 60 seconds.