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Planting Calendar · Zone 3A

When to plant leek in zone 3a

In USDA zone 3a, start leek seeds indoors around Mar 7, transplant outdoors May 16, and harvest from Aug 24.

We don’t publish a planting calendar for zone 3a, because every date on one would be counted from a last-frost date this zone doesn’t reliably have. Leek takes about 100120 days from transplanting to first picking, and that part holds anywhere. For real dates, tell us where you are below and Garzed reads ten years of weather at your own coordinates.

Why these dates work in zone 3a

Zone 3a's last spring frost averages May 30 and first fall frost Sep 10 — about 103 frost-free days. Leek tolerates light frost, so you can set plants out ahead of the last-frost date and keep harvesting into the cooler fall. Starting seeds indoors 12 weeks ahead gives strong transplants ready the moment the soil warms. One caveat: we haven't yet checked zone 3a against the weather archive, so those frost dates are an inherited estimate rather than a measurement. Give Garzed your location and it works from that location's own ten-year record instead.

Common questions

How long does leek take to grow in zone 3a?

Leek matures in about 100–120 days from transplanting. In zone 3a that means setting plants out around May 16 and first picking around Aug 24.

Will leek survive frost in zone 3a?

Yes — leek tolerates light frost. In zone 3a you can set plants out a little before the last frost (around May 30) and keep harvesting past the first fall frost (around Sep 10).

For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full leek growing guide →