When to plant leeks in Cottage Grove, OR

Start leeks from seed indoors Jan 16–30, then plant the young plants in the garden in Cottage Grove Mar 27 – May 8.

Easy Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Cottage Grove's typical last spring frost is April 24. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

Difficulty: Easy
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 6 inches apart
Planting depth: Set seedlings in a hole about 6 inches deep so the stems grow long and white
Frost: Handles light frost
First harvest: About 120 days after planting

Step by step

Start seeds indoors Jan 16–30 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden Mar 27 – May 8, 6 inches apart. Set seedlings in a hole about 6 inches deep so the stems grow long and white.
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Harvest: Dig whenever stems are an inch or more across. West of the Cascades you can leave them in the ground and harvest all winter.

Varieties that do well here

King Richard (early)
Bandit (winter-hardy)
American Flag

Watch out for

Weeds crowd young leeks. Mulch and weed regularly while the plants are small.

Slow but nearly foolproof. West of the Cascades they stand in the garden all winter, ready to dig as you need them.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Cottage Grove, OR?

Typically April 24. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 10. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Cottage Grove.

Is it too late to plant leeks in Cottage Grove?

The spring planting window runs through May 8. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.

When should I start leeks from seed indoors in Cottage Grove?

January 16 to January 30, which is 10 to 8 weeks before the March 27 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Cottage Grove around the same time

Planting dates for leeks in nearby areas

Salem, OR Mar 15 – Apr 26
Eugene, OR Mar 15 – Apr 26
McMinnville and Newberg, OR Mar 18 – Apr 29
Corvallis and Albany, OR Mar 15 – Apr 26
Portland, OR Mar 15 – Apr 26
Gresham, OR Mar 15 – Apr 26

Full planting calendar for Cottage Grove · Leeks in every city