{
  "schema_version": 1,
  "record_type": "plant",
  "slug": "leek",
  "common_name": "Leek",
  "botanical_name": "Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum",
  "family": "Amaryllidaceae",
  "summary": "Leeks are hardy, slow-growing alliums transplanted deeply to produce long blanched shanks for autumn, winter and spring harvest.",
  "categories": [
    "stem vegetable",
    "allium",
    "winter crop"
  ],
  "growth_habits": [
    "upright"
  ],
  "lifecycle": "Biennial usually grown as an annual",
  "difficulty": "Easy",
  "requirements": {
    "light": {
      "minimum_direct_sun_hours": 6,
      "preferred_direct_sun_hours": 8
    },
    "soil_ph": {
      "minimum": 6.0,
      "maximum": 7.0
    },
    "container": {
      "minimum_volume_litres": 20,
      "minimum_diameter_cm": 30,
      "plants_per_container": 4
    },
    "spacing": {
      "minimum_cm": 15,
      "maximum_cm": 20
    },
    "planting_out": {
      "minimum_reliable_temperature_c": 7,
      "frost_tolerant": true,
      "note": "Mature hardy varieties can stand through winter."
    },
    "harvest": {
      "typical_uk_months": [
        "August",
        "April"
      ]
    }
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "rhs-growing-leeks",
      "publisher": "Royal Horticultural Society",
      "url": "https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/leeks/grow-your-own",
      "supports": [
        "types",
        "site",
        "sowing",
        "transplanting",
        "containers",
        "care",
        "harvest"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "umn-vegetable-library",
      "publisher": "University of Minnesota Extension",
      "url": "https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden/vegetables",
      "supports": [
        "crop_reference",
        "regional_context"
      ]
    }
  ]
}