Allium porrum

Allium porrum (leek) — a hardy, sweet, mild member of the onion family that stands right through winter; beloved of the Romans and the emblem of Wales. The botanical home of our leek range.

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  • Leek Bulgarian Giant seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Bulgarian Giant (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Leek Bulgarian Giant Seeds Allium Porrum Annual Variety
    €3,96€4,95

    Leek variety with long, slender summer stems leek bulgarian giant seeds are an annual vegetable choice for gardeners looking for a classic, old-style Allium porrum with a notably long, slender stem. This giant leek variety...
  • Leek Zwitserse Reuzen seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Zwitserse Reuzen (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Zwitserse Reuzen Allium Porrum Annual Variety
    €4,95

    Leek variety for early summer harvest Leek seeds ‘Zwitserse Reuzen’ are a reliable annual summer leek seeds option for gardeners who want sturdy plants with a medium-heavy build and a clean, white stem. This summer...
  • Leek Winterreuzen 3 Winter Harvest seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Winterreuzen 3 Winter Harvest (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Winterreuzen 3 Allium Porrum Annual Variety Winter Harvest
    €4,45

    Leek variety for early winter garden harvest leek seeds Winterreuzen 3 are an annual vegetable seed selection valued for reliable performance in cooler-season beds. This winter leek variety seeds option is known for producing hardy...
  • Leek Bluegreen Winter Hiverbleu Cold Hardy seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Bluegreen Winter Hiverbleu Cold Hardy (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Leek Seeds Bluegreen Winter Hiverbleu Allium Porrum Annual Cold Hardy
    €3,96€4,95

    Bluegreen winter leek seeds for sturdy stems Leek seeds ‘Bluegreen Winter’ (Hiverbleu) are a reliable winter leek variety valued for its robust plants and substantial size. This bluegreen winter leek develops firm, white shafts and...
  • Leek Blue Green Autumn seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Blue Green Autumn (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Blue Green Autumn Allium Porrum Annual Variety
    €5,95

    Blue Green Autumn leek for open ground leek seeds for the Blue Green Autumn type are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a classic stem vegetable with a long seasonal window. This autumn harvest...
  • Leek Zwitserse Reuzen seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Zwitserse Reuzen (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Zwitserse Reuzen Allium Porrum Annual
    €4,95

    Swiss Giant leek variety for summer harvest leek seeds zwitserse reuzen are a classic choice for gardeners looking for a reliable, early summer leek variety with sturdy growth and an attractive, medium-weight stem. This vegetable...
  • Leek Herfstreuzen 3 Elephant seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Herfstreuzen 3 Elephant (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Herfstreuzen 3 Elephant Allium Porrum Annual Variety
    €4,45

    Leek variety for early autumn garden harvest Leek seeds ‘Herfstreuzen 3’ are an elephant type leek selected for early autumn cropping and reliable performance in the vegetable garden. This annual variety forms a long white...
  • Leek Bluegreen Winter seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Bluegreen Winter (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Leek Seeds Bluegreen Winter Allium Porrum Annual Variety
    €3,96€4,95

    Bluegreen winter leek variety for open ground Leek seeds Bluegreen Winter are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a hardy, blue-green leek with a classic upright habit. This annual variety is valued for its...
  • Leek Sprouting seeds (Allium porrum) – organic annual sprouting seeds Leek Sprouting (Allium porrum) – organic annual sprouting seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Leek Sprouting Seeds Organic Allium Porrum Annual
    €5,56€6,95

    Organic leek sprouts for fresh indoor harvests leek sprouting seeds are a specialty vegetable option for producing fine, tender sprouts with a clean, onion-like leek flavour. This organic selection is based on Allium porrum and...
  • Leek Winterreuzen 3 seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Winterreuzen 3 (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Winterreuzen 3 Allium Porrum Annual Variety
    €4,95

    Winterreuzen 3 leek seeds for winter cropping leek seeds Winterreuzen 3 are an annual vegetable variety valued for dependable performance in cooler seasons. This winter leek variety is known for forming a long white shank...
  • Leek Winter Tornado seeds (Allium porrum) – vegetable Leek Winter Tornado (Allium porrum) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Allium Porrum Winter Variety Tornado
    €5,95

    Winter leek variety for reliable garden harvests Leek seeds for the winter variety Tornado are a practical choice for gardeners who want a robust crop for the colder part of the season. This winter leek...
  • Leek Farinto seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Farinto (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Farinto Allium Porrum Annual Variety
    €5,95

    Leek variety Farinto for late season harvest leek seeds Farinto are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a bluegreen winter leek with strong field performance. This annual stem vegetable is valued for producing long,...
  • Leek Hannibal seeds (Allium porrum) – organic annual vegetable Leek Hannibal (Allium porrum) – organic annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Organic Allium Porrum Hannibal Annual Variety
    €5,95

    Organic leek seeds for late season gardens leek seeds are a reliable choice for growers who want sturdy, upright plants and a long harvest window in the vegetable garden. This organic annual variety, Hannibal, is...
  • Leek Farinto Pelleted Winter seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Farinto Pelleted Winter (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Farinto Allium Porrum Pelleted Annual Winter Variety
    €6,95

    Farinto leek for bluegreen winter harvests leek seeds Farinto are a bluegreen winter leek variety selected for late season performance in the vegetable garden. This annual type forms sturdy plants suited to harvesting from autumn...
  • Leek Herfstreuzen 3 Elephant seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Herfstreuzen 3 Elephant (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Herfstreuzen 3 Elephant Allium Porrum Annual
    €4,95

    Leek variety for early autumn garden harvest leek seeds ‘Herfstreuzen 3’ (Elephant type) are a reliable choice for vegetable beds and kitchen gardens where you want sturdy stem vegetables with a classic look. This autumn...
  • Leek De Carentan 2 seeds (Allium porrum) – organic annual vegetable Leek De Carentan 2 (Allium porrum) – organic annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek De Carentan 2 Seeds Organic Allium Porrum Annual
    €4,95

    Organic leek for sturdy late season harvests leek de carentan 2 seeds are an organic vegetable choice for gardeners who want a reliable, winter hardy leek variety with a traditional look and strong garden performance....
  • Leek Bluegreen Winter seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Bluegreen Winter (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Bluegreen Winter Allium Porrum Annual Vegetable
    €4,45

    Bluegreen winter leek for productive garden beds leek seeds Bluegreen Winter are a dependable choice for gardeners looking for a winter hardy leek variety with attractive blue-green foliage and sturdy, upright growth. This annual stem...
  • Leek Bluegreen Winter Hiverbleu seeds (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable Leek Bluegreen Winter Hiverbleu (Allium porrum) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Leek Seeds Bluegreen Winter Hiverbleu Allium Porrum Annual
    €4,95

    Leek seeds for bluegreen winter garden crops leek seeds ‘Bluegreen Winter Hiverbleu’ are a reliable winter leek variety grown as a stem vegetable for the kitchen garden. This selection is valued for its blue-green foliage...
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Allium porrum — the leek

Allium porrum is the botanical name for the leek, a hardy biennial in the onion family grown for its sweet, mild blanched stem. It is the species behind our leek range within the bulb vegetable collection, a milder cousin of the onion.

History & origin

The leek has been cultivated since antiquity around the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. The ancient Egyptians grew it, and the Romans were devoted to it — the Emperor Nero supposedly ate so many leeks to improve his voice that he earned the nickname “Porophagus,” the leek-eater. The leek is also the national emblem of Wales, said to have been worn by Welsh soldiers to tell friend from foe in battle.

Its name is straightforward: Allium is the Latin for the onion family and porrum the Latin for leek.

Botanical characteristics

Unlike the onion, the leek forms no bulb; instead it builds a thick column of tightly wrapped leaf bases, blanched white by earthing up. It is one of the hardiest vegetables of all, standing through hard frost to give fresh harvests right through winter when little else is growing. It sits alongside onions and the rest of the family in our bulb vegetables and the wider root veg range.

Growing Allium porrum from seed

Leeks need a long season, so sow early in the year in a seedbed or in modules. Transplant the young plants into deep holes to blanch the stems, water them in, and earth up as they grow for more sweet white shaft. Then simply lift them through autumn and winter as you need them. Our vegetable sowing calendar and soil guide cover the timing and ground prep.

Ready to grow leeks? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Leek · Onion · Bulb Vegetables · Root Vegetables · All Vegetables

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Allium porrum?
It is the botanical name for the leek, a hardy biennial in the onion family.

Where do leeks originate?
From the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, where they have been grown since antiquity.

Why do you earth up leeks?
To blanch a longer, sweeter white stem by excluding light.

Are leeks hardy?
Very — they stand through hard frost, giving fresh harvests all winter.

How do I grow leeks from seed?
Sow early, transplant the young plants into deep holes, earth up, and lift through winter as needed.