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 | Dec 31 – Feb 11 | Aug 2 – Sep 20 |
| Zone 9 | Nov 28 – Jan 9 | Aug 22 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 10 | Nov 8 – Dec 20 | Sep 1 – Oct 20 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Stems an inch or more thick with a long white shank. Frost-hardy: harvest from fall through winter as needed.
Yield
About 0.35 lbs per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.35 lb).
Watch for
Onion thrips · Onion maggot · Downy mildew · White rot, 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, 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.
Leek keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Leek planting questions
How many leek plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 6 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 23 plants, which takes around 12 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does leek need?+
Space plants 6" apart in the row with 12" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Start indoors, transplant out.
When should I plant leek?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing leek worth it?+
At about $2.00/lb retail and ~0.35 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $16 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.