Planting and varieties
The main production season is April to November, but the crop is grown all year round in the Perth area.
Transplanting (at 15cm high) is the preferred planting technique. This gives accurate spacing essential for even sizing and the best use of land.
Seed is relatively cheap and can be planted to raise seedlings from May to February. Seed can be sown in field seedbeds and emerged seedlings thinned to 25mm a few weeks after emergence. Seedlings are also grown in cell pack trays by specialist nurseries. Cell-grown seedlings establish more quickly and there are fewer losses in hot weather than field-grown seedlings.
In the field, raised beds 1.5m wide may be used to improve drainage, although flat beds can be used on sandy soils. Each bed has four plant rows, 40cm apart, with 20cm between plants in the rows. Bare root transplants are normally topped to ensure better establishment and planted 10 to 15cm deep.
Deep planting gives longer white stems. Holes made by the planting machine are often not filled in, as this may choke the plants. The frequent irrigation required to establish the seedlings will gradually replace soil around the stems in sandy soils.
New varieties are primarily bred overseas by multi-national breeding houses and sold in Australia by their subsidiary companies or affiliates. The aim of leek breeders is to develop varieties with increased length of the shank (‘stem’), decreased size of the bulb and with dark green leaves.
Commercial vegetable varieties change constantly with changing consumer preferences. Check with seed companies for current preferred varieties. Specialist seedling nurseries can provide advice on varieties preferred by the market.