Broad Beans Followed by Leeks
Early broad beans feed the soil, then July-transplanted leeks use it until winter.
Season timeline
- Sow the broad beans
- Sow leeks in trays
- Harvest the broad beans
- Clear the beans, leave the roots
- Transplant the leeks
- Harvest leeks into winter
- Clear the bed
Bed layout
Crops in this bed
Step by step
- Sow the broad beansMar
Sow broad beans 5 cm deep as one of the first crops; they germinate in cold soil.
- Sow leeks in traysMar
Sow autumn leeks in deep trays; they need a long seedling stage.
- Harvest the broad beansJun–Jul
Pick the pods when the beans inside are full but still soft.
- Clear the beans, leave the rootsJul
Cut the stems at ground level; the nitrogen nodules stay for the leeks.
- Transplant the leeksJul
Drop the seedlings into deep dibber holes and water in without filling the holes with soil.
- Harvest leeks into winterOct–Dec
Lift leeks as needed; autumn varieties stand frost well.
- Clear the bedDec
Lift the last leeks before the ground freezes solid and tidy the bed.
Harvest calendar
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fava-bean | Fava-bean: Jun | Fava-bean: Jul | ||||||||||
| Leek | Leek: Oct | Leek: Nov | Leek: Dec |
The bed over the season
- Fava-bean · Sowing
- Fava-bean · Growing
- Fava-bean · Harvest
- Leek · Sowing
- Leek · Growing
- Leek · Harvest
Why this combination works
Broad beans are the earliest legume: they germinate in cold March soil, fix nitrogen on their roots and finish by July. That is exactly the traditional moment to transplant autumn leeks, which then use the enriched bed until winter. The deep dibber holes also earth up the leek shafts as they fill in, giving longer white stems.
Tips
Pinch the bean tips as soon as blackfly appear. Never let the leek seedlings dry out in July heat. Hill the leeks in September for longer white shafts. Leave a few leeks in the bed — they hold until February.