- Latin Name: Allium ampeloprasum
- Other Names:
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: Both
- Days to Maturity: 130-139 days
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
- Planting Depth: 1/4"
- Plant Spacing: 2-6"
- Row Spacing: 2-6"
- Growth Habit: Upright
- Soil Preference: Fertile with organic matter
- Temp Preference: Warmer
- Light Preference: Full Sun
- Diseases/pests/problems: Susceptible to damping off, downy mildew, maggots and thrips. Blanching leeks while growing, by building up mounds of dirt around the stalks, can enhance the flavor.
- Color:White stems with green leaves
- Flavor:Mild, onion-like
If starting indoors, start eight to ten weeks before the last average frost. Plant the Large American Flag leek seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, keeping the soil warm and moist. Transplant outside when the soil can be worked. When planting outside, sow 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, with two to six inches apart. While growing, keep the leeks blanched by building up a mound of dirt around the stalks. This will enrich the flavor of the crop.
Large American Flag Leeks (Allium porrum ampeloprasum var. “Large American Flag”), is also known commonly as Scotch Flag, or Giant Musselburh is tasty vegetable in the onion family, but with a sweeter milder flavor than onions. It has large white, stems, with green leaves at the top. It likes moist soil, but shouldn’t be over watered. The flavor is wonderful if extra care is taken to blanch the stalks. Will over winter in warmer climates. American Flag Leek is a biennial, grown as an annual. Leeks are great boiled, fried, baked, and steamed. Also go well in soups, stews, and stir fries. The baby leeks after thinning are great in salads. Leeks have been around since the time of ancient Egypt. Leeks are popular in many cultures.