Varna Organic leek seeds produce what may be the ultimate summer leek. It grows so quickly that it can be harvested at scallion size for gourmet baby leeks when planted close together. Otherwise, grow this Bulgarian type to full size at 45cm tall. The highly uniform, flavourful leeks are very cylindrical and slender. The medium green leaves are upright and rigid, with good tolerance to leaf diseases.
How To Grow, 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. Seeds should sprout in 10-16 days.
How To Grow, Starting: In flats: Sow seeds 5mm deep, about 1cm apart. Transplant when 20cm tall. Space 20cm apart in rows 45cm apart. Rows can be as narrow as 20cm (8″) if planting in raised beds or other situation where weeding will be simple.
How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 5.-6.5. Leeks have short roots, so the benefit from fertile soil with lots of compost and ½ cup balanced organic fertilizer worked in beneath each 2m 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°‚ cover them with a blanket or tarp.
How To Grow, Harvest: Dig at any size, as needed. If winter harvest leeks freeze solid, wait until they thaw out during a warm spell to harvest.
70 Days.
Approx: 155 Seeds.
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