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Leek · Allium ampeloprasum

Why are my leek leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing leaves on your leeks often signal that the plant is struggling with its water intake or nutrient levels. Check the soil moisture first to see if you are overwatering or if the ground has dried out too much.

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yellow leaves on a plant
Photo: Trio3D, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Feel the soil moisture with your finger.
  2. Inspect the base of the stem for signs of rot.
  3. Check if the leaves are yellowing from the bottom up.

Likely causes

  1. Overwatering

    Most likely

    How to tell: The leaves look pale and limp, and the soil feels soggy or swampy to the touch.

    What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 2 inches of soil dry out. Ensure your garden bed or container has excellent drainage to prevent water from pooling around the roots.

  2. Nitrogen Deficiency

    Possible

    How to tell: Older leaves turn yellow first while the plant looks stunted and lacks vigor.

    What to do: Apply a balanced, nitrogen rich vegetable fertilizer or compost tea. Follow the package instructions to apply it every 3 to 4 weeks during the growing season.

Yellow leaves on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your leek

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

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When to worry

It is normal for the very lowest, oldest leaves to yellow as the plant matures. Worry if the yellowing spreads rapidly to the younger, central leaves.

Stopping it coming back

Maintain consistent soil moisture and feed your leeks with organic compost at planting time.

Leek: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your leek and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Should I cut off the yellow leaves?
Yes, you can trim them off with clean scissors to keep the plant tidy and prevent disease. It will not hurt the leek to remove dead or dying foliage.
Can yellow leaves recover?
Usually, once a leaf has turned fully yellow, it will not turn green again. Focus on keeping the remaining green leaves healthy.

More problems with Leek

Back to the Leek guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.