An overview of old, new and resistant leek and leek varieties. Seeds and seeds of these varieties can also be ordered directly from online retailers.
Leek or leeks are mainly grown in the summer and autumn seasons. The hobby gardener can choose between growing seeds or leek young onions. The season is crucial for the harvest, because most summer varieties can hardly tolerate sub-zero temperatures.
The numerous leek and leek varieties differ mainly in sowing, taste, color and harvest time. Hobby gardeners can learn more about storage, shelf life and the right season for planting leeks from the following variety descriptions:
Summer Leek:
- Bavaria: quite early, rapidly growing summer leek; large shafts, plenty of white; best used as a previous crop.
- Early Giant: Fast-growing variety, popularly known as Major, high yields, very long, juicy stems; our cultivation recommendation: pull ahead and plant out as a previous crop.
- Elefant: Fast-growing variety; short to medium, quite thick shafts; does not tolerate frost, should be harvested by November.
- Megaton (F1): Long-stemmed leek variety; extremely productive; rapid growth.
Autumn Onions:
- Blue-Green Autumn: Tried and true Autumn Allium; up to 30 cm long white shafts; high yields; also known as Pandora or Ideal Leek.
- D'Elbeuf: Rapidly growing typical autumn leek variety; origin is in France; quite thick but somewhat shorter stalks; excellent taste; blue-green leaves; good and safe yields.
- Furor: Traditional autumn leek variety from France; medium-length stalks sprout under good conditions; these are particularly delicate and snow-white.
- Hannibal: Fast-growing, typical autumn variety; medium and quite thick stems with a subtle onion shape above the root system.
- Herbstriese 2: Highly valued due to the extremely long, white stems and very high-yield properties; also as Hannibalfamous; extremely tasteful; can be harvested over many weeks.
- Pluston (F1): New variety for autumn cultivation; elongated, medium-thick shafts; very productive.
- Porbella: variety from France; is harvested over the fall; the leek variety Porballa is frost-resistant; rather long and very white shafts; the foliage has a subtle blue cast.
- Tenor: A French autumn variety with outstanding stem characteristics; simple bulb formation at the base; high yields; robust in frost; very good taste.
Winter Leeks:
- Blue-Green Winter: A leek variety that is also known as Eskimo or Farinto; long, rather thick shafts; extremely hardy and can be harvested regularly during mild winters or in temperate areas from October to March; great taste.
- Bleu Solaise: Well-established winter variety, typical of France; extremely robust and frost-resistant; medium-length thick shaft; a slight onion shape is formed at the base; Foliage with a noticeable blue cast.
- D'hiver de Saint Victor: Often referred to as Siegfried in Germany, it can be cultivated in autumn and winter; very thick shafts, but somewhat shorter; excellent aroma.
- De Carentan 2: Well-tried, late winter leek; medium-length shafts; extremely resistant to frost.
- Forrest: Very hardy leek; solid, sturdy, thick and elongated stems; good taste and fine texture; good to recommend for later planting out; can be harvested until April of the following year; when harvesting in the New Year, the harvest should be brought in by May's flowering.
- Gigante De Inverno 2: winter leek variety from Italy; the meaning in German is something like winter giant; elongated and thick shaft; the base has a subtle onion curve; frost resistant.
- Winter Giants 2: Known as Vernor in France; a winter leek with very special characteristics: the stalks are of medium length, white and thick; very resistant to disease and frost.
Once you've decided on a variety, it's time to grow the leek. You can find out how best to do this in our special article.