Leek, in its popularity in our country, is second only to onion (however, this is not surprising, because onion is a “native inhabitant” for us, while leek came to us from Western Asia), leaving behind all other types of the onion family. It is part of many dishes, the chemical composition of the plant makes it one of the most useful vegetables, and some healing properties are inherent in it. In Ukraine, Belarus and Our Country, it is grown almost everywhere, so we will devote this article to examining and characterizing the best varieties of leeks.
early ripe
As statistics show, early ripe leeks are more productive than others, they ripen in about 130-150 days, depending on the conditions.
Goliath – medium height (bleached part is about 30 cm) with wide leaves of green or gray-green color. The bulb is weakly expressed, the total weight is up to 200 g. The purpose is universal, it is used both fresh and dried. Immunity to diseases is not very good, therefore, it requires additional attention when leaving.
The Kilima variety can be harvested a week later than other early varieties. It has a shorter “leg” (length – 25 cm, diameter – 5 cm), but more dense, the total weight is not more than 150 g. Universal application.
Vesta was bred by Moscow breeders for cultivation in this region. The taste is semi-sharp, universal purpose. The white part can reach a length of 50 cm with a diameter of only 2-3 cm, the total weight exceeds 200 g. It resists various diseases well.
Columbus. Plants of this variety are tall due to long leaves (up to 80 cm), the weight can reach as much as 400 g with proper cultivation. It has excellent taste qualities, the bleached part is formed virtually without hilling.
The middle-ripening
Mid-season leek varieties are inferior in yield to early-ripening ones, but they are superior in quality. The growing season of such them ranges from 150 to 170, and even all 180 days.
Casimir is a leek of German origin. The bulb is weakly expressed or may be completely absent, but the bleached part of excellent quality is up to 25 cm long and no more than 5 cm in diameter. You can use it fresh or dried.
Camus is a product of Czech breeding specialists. The bulb is weakly expressed, the bleached part is about 18-20 cm long, only 2-3 cm in diameter. The leaves sometimes have a slight purple tint. The taste is semi-sharp, preferably consumed fresh. Yields are slightly below most average species. Able to resist fungal diseases.
Bastion is one of the first of the mid-season varieties to yield (155-160 days). The leaves of the plant are gray-green or blue-green of medium length. The bulb is medium-expressed, the bleached part with a diameter of 4-5 cm reaches a third of a meter in length, weight – about 200 g. In addition to fresh consumption, the vegetable is suitable for drying and canning.
Tango is a very productive variety. Despite the fact that it belongs to the mid-season, it is frost-resistant, not prone to disease. The length of the “leg” is 12-15 cm, the leaves are medium, the bulb, like in most types of leek, is mild. The total weight of one plant is approximately 200-250 g. The purpose is universal.
Leek Jolanth – a plant up to 40 cm high with narrow dark green leaves with a slight purple color. The length and diameter of the “leg” are medium, the bulb is small. Widely used in home cooking and industrial processing. It has a relatively strong immunity to fungal diseases.
late ripening
The growing season of late varieties is about six months (from 180 days), their yield is comparable to that of mid-season varieties.
Asgeos – an onion bred by VNIISSOK workers in the 90s, is well suited for growing in Siberia. It has dark green leaves with a slightly pronounced bluish tinge, the length of which exceeds half a meter with a width of 6-7 cm. The bulb is weakly expressed, the white part barely reaches a length of 20 cm, but the weight of the whole plant is in the range of 300-350 g. The taste is semi-sharp, application – universal.
Greywing has a thick bleached part, the mass of plants is about 150 g. The leaves are dark green, or blue-green. Like all winter species, it is winter-hardy, endowed with a slightly spicy taste. Application is universal.
Elefant is a Czech-made variety, the harvest ripens in 190-200 days. The plant can grow up to 85 cm in height and reach 200 g in weight, the stem is medium in size. It has a specific spicy taste.
Mercury is a leek with dark green leaves, a “leg” of a cylindrical shape and a length of 20-25 cm. The mass of plants is from 150 g, with good agricultural technology it can increase up to 200 g. It has a semi-sharp taste, it is used fresh and dried. Resistant to viral diseases.
When choosing a leek variety, consider the purpose for which you are going to use it, and based on this, make your choice correctly. Thanks to breeding, there is now the widest choice, and perhaps this article, which presented our most popular varieties of leek, will help you choose what you need.
Video “Leek”
In this video, you will see the general characteristics of leek, learn about its beneficial properties and methods of application.
