Alto - Varna Certified Organic Leeks Vegetable Seeds - West Coast Seeds - LK443A

PRODUCT DETAILS

CERTIFIED ORGANIC! Varna Organic leek seeds produce what may be the ultimate summer leek. It grows so quickly that it can be harvested at the green onion stage for gourmet baby leeks when planted close together. Otherwise, grow this Bulgarian type leek out to full size at 45cm (18″) tall. The highly uniform, flavourful leeks are very cylindrical and quite thick. The dark green leaves are upright and rigid, with good tolerance to leaf diseases. Varna is named after a town (and region) in Bulgaria. Bulgarian type leeks are bred for size and flavour, and Varna lives up to both.

Matures in 60-80 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

• Summer & fall harvest
• Fast growth
• Slender, uniform stalks
• Refined flavour

All About Varna Organic

Latin

Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Difficulty

Easy, but slow. Transplanting is required.

Season & Zone

Season: Cool season
Exposure: Full-sun
Zone: Winter harvest leeks are hardy to Zone 7.

Timing

Start summer/fall harvest leeks 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, in flats indoors. Start winter harvest leeks indoors from March to mid-June. In mild winter areas, start them in a humus-rich nursery bed outside, and then transplant. Optimal soil temperature: 10-25°C (50-75°F). Seeds should sprout in 10-16 days.

Starting

In flats: Sow seeds 5mm (¼”) deep, about 1cm (½”) apart. Transplant when 20cm (8″) tall. Space 20cm (8″) apart in rows 45cm (18″) apart. Rows can be as narrow as 20cm (8") if planting in raised beds or other situation where weeding will be simple.

Growing

Ideal pH: 5.0-6.5. Leeks have short roots, so they benefit from fertile soil with lots of compost and ½ cup balanced organic fertilizer worked in beneath each 2m (6′) of row. Traditional garden wisdom recommends using a dibber to make holes 15cm (6″) deep. Transplants are then set at the bottom of the hole and the hole is left unfilled – rain will fill it in as the leek grows. To blanch further up the stem, hill soil up around the stem as the leek grows, or mulch with straw.

However, the wise and much loved garden writer Linda Gilkeson asserts that there is no need to plant leeks into holes or trenches. She recommends transplanting the seedlings only at the depth of the soil plug they grow in. They will still produce nice, tall, blanched shanks, with no soil grains between the leaves.

In late fall, mulch around leeks as high up the stems as possible. If the forecast is for weather below -10°C (14°F), cover them with a blanket or tarp.

Days to maturity: From transplant date.

Harvest

Dig at any size, as needed. If winter harvest leeks freeze solid, wait until they thaw out during a warm spell to harvest.

Seed Info

In optimal conditions, at least 65% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 1 year. Per 100′ row: 240 seeds, per acre: 70M seeds.

Companion Planting

Grow leeks with beets, carrot, celery, onions, and spinach. Avoid planting near beans and peas. Leeks help repel carrot rust flies.