This is a pre-order item and quantities are limited. Leek Starts will ship in March/April.
Allium Porrum
This dependable heavy yielding variety produces large, beautiful plants. Thick white shafts are 12 to 14 inches long topped with dark blue-green flags. Has good virus tolerance and quite bolt resistant
Planting Guide and Seed Saving Notes for Leeks
Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum)
The Roman emperor Nero listed leeks among his favorite foods and believed that they gave him a good singing voice. More recently, the leek has become a national symbol of Wales, with the Welsh enthusiastically integrating it into many of their dishes. A little less robust than an onion in flavor, leeks are used in stocks, soups, braised dishes, or caramenlized for a gourmet addition to pizza and quiche.
Nutrients: vitamins A, K, C, B6, and iron.
How to grow Leeks from Seed
Bed Preparation
Leeks are cold hardy biennials that prefer rich, well-drained soil. Amend with compost prior to planting. Plant leeks in full sun.
Planting
Leeks can be grown from starts (young plants) or seed. Plant leek starts outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked in late winter-early spring. Space starts 4-6" apart in rows 12" apart. Blanching (preventing a portion of the plant from getting sunlight) is done to create the white, tender portion we most often eat. One planting method involves digging a 6" deep v-shaped trench and filling it with soil as the plants grow taller. The other less labor intensive technique is to poke 6" deep holes and insert leek starts. Soil can then be mounded around the base of plants as they grow. You can also place a portion of cardboard paper towel center around the lower part of the stem for blanching. Keep plants moist until well established and mulch to conserve moisture and minimize weeds.
Plant leek seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date or in late summer for overwintering and early spring harvest. Sow seeds 1/4" deep and 1" apart. Seeds germinate best when soil temperatures are between 60-80°F. Seeds will sprout in 6-16 days. Thin seedlings so that mature plants are 4-6" apart. Hardened off seedlings can be transplanted outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked.
Harvest
Leeks can be harvested on average in 95 days after planting or when plants are large enough to eat.
How to save Leek Seed
Leeks are biennial, meaning they flower, set seed and die during their second year of growth. Harvest seed when flowers begin to turn brown. Remove flower head and finish drying indoors. Store seeds in a cool, dry place. Seeds remain viable for 2-4 years.
- Shipping and Handling Costs
- Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy
- Refund Policy
- Security Policy
- Privacy Policy
- Photo Policy
Shipping and Handling Costs
Our website automatically calculates shipping costs based on weight, and zip code. If your order is under 1 lb you have the option of USPS First Class, USPS Priority, or UPS Ground. If your order is 1 lb or over it will be shipped USPS Priority or UPS Ground, it can NOT be shipped USPS First Class. Return to Top
Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy
Orders with all items in stock will ship in 3-4 business days, plus transit time. During peak season (January - April) please allow extra time for your order to be fulfilled. We do NOT process orders on the weekend, if you place an order on Friday it will be processed on Monday.
All orders are shipped by the United States Postal Service or UPS, either USPS First Class, USPS Priority, or UPS Ground. USPS First Class (under 1 pound) transit time 5-6 business days. USPS Priority and UPS Ground (1lb and over) transit time 2-3 business days. If your order is over 1 lb it will be shipped USPS Priority or UPS Ground (depending on what you chose in check out), it can NOT be shipped USPS First Class. All transit times varies by season. If you want to receive tracking information please provide an email when placing your order, tracking information is sent via email. If you require expedited shipping please call us at 828-254-0708.
Pre-Order/ Seasonal Items:
If your order contains a Pre-Order/ Seasonal item(s), example: Garlic, Shallots, Seed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, etc., they will be shipped during the season those items are available. Seasonal Items will be shipped and available based on South East planting times. If your order has both Pre-Order / Seasonal items and seed packets, cover crops, etc., Pre-Order items will NOT delay the other items in your order from being shipped. Those NON Pre-Order/ Seasonal items (seed packets, cover crops, etc.) will be shipped within 3-4 business days, and the Pre-Order/ Seasonal items will ship out separately as they become available based on South East planting times.
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If you live near Asheville, North Carolina, and would like to pick up your order, instead of paying shipping, you can select local pick up in your cart. Please provide a phone number and (or) email address so we can contact you when your order is ready to pick up. Please allow 2-3 days to process local pick up orders during peak season (Januray-April). If you do NOT live in North Carolina, for example you live in Johnson City, Tennessee and would like to pick up your order instead of paying shipping, please put our address as the shipping address:
Sow True Seed 243 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801
If you do not use a North Carolina shipping address it will not allow you to select local pick up.
Refund Policy
We rigorously test our seed two times a year through the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to ensure that your seed will germinate and remain viable as long as it is stored correctly. We never sell seed that does not meet the Federal standards of germination. For quality control reasons, we regret that we cannot accept returns of seed, but if for any reason your seed does not germinate within the sell-by date, we will gladly replace the seed. We ask that you keep the LOT# from the seed packet so we can keep track of any complaints.
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Photo Policy
TERMS FOR IMAGE RIGHTS - these things always sound scary, but basically we enjoyed your photo and would love to use it so other people can see what our seeds can become! We'd love to do that without getting in trouble, so being that we live in a crazy world, here are a few terms:
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