Growing Perennial Leek in Australia: The Complete Guide
Perennial Leek is an easy perennial vegetable to grow, needing full sun with regular watering.
We get asked about perennial leek often enough that it's worth setting out the full picture here, beyond what fits on our printable card.
Plant once, harvest for years
Also called walking onion or Babington's leek, this perennial produces clumps of bulbils that can be replanted or left to multiply the bed on their own year after year.
Getting Perennial Leek Into the Ground
Method — plant bulbils or divisions from an established clump. Soil — rich, well-drained. Timing — plant in autumn or spring.
Keeping It Growing Well
A few things matter most here:
- Water regularly, especially while establishing.
- Divide clumps every couple of years to keep vigour up.
- Harvest outer stems, leaving the clump to regrow.
- Feed with compost annually.
Common Problems
The key things to get right:
- Rust — orange leaf spotting; improve airflow.
- Very few other issues — a low-maintenance perennial.
- Overcrowding — divide clumps periodically.
- Onion thrips — occasional; hose off.
Harvest and Storage
Signs — usable stems from spring through much of the year. Method — cut or pull outer stems, leaving the clump intact. Curing — none needed. Storage — fridge, up to a couple of weeks.
That's the full picture behind perennial leek. The printable A4 version of this guide — with the quick-reference gauges and diagram in one page — is available on the main guide page below.