Sweet Garleek Seeds

Allium porrum

During his decades of working with garlic and leeks from all over the world, allium breeder Hans Bongers identified a unique leek with uniformly straight shafts and a distinct garlicky flavor. He spent 10 years developing this trait, creating a cross that would express the sweetness of leeks with the mild, savory notes of garlic. The result of this love match, Sweet Garleek was first introduced to us by Bejo Seeds and immediately opened up a whole new world of allium possibilities.

Sweet Garleek was trialed over multiple seasons by our participatory Trial Network of 150 chefs and growers, who provided early feedback on the Sweet Garleek and explored its applications in the field and the kitchen. Chefs commented on the delicious, concentrated flavor, buttery texture and whole-plant deliciousness, tops and all.

Sweet Garleek grows from spring to fall and is harvested at ½-inch diameter to maximize its tenderness and natural garlicky flavor.

Days to Harvest

• 95-110 days from sowing

Appearance

• Recommended for harvest at ½ - ¾” diameter (approximately Sharpie-width).
• Straight shafts, no curves.

Spacing After Thinning / Transplanting

• Start seeds in plug trays 6 weeks before transplanting. Sow 4-5 seeds per plug. Thin to 3-4 plants per plug.
• Optimal temperature range for germination is 60-70 °F. Higher temperatures may result in lower germination rates.
• Plugs with more than four plants will yield curved shafts and will be out of spec.
• Transplant plugs at 6” spacing in-row, at least 6” between rows.

Pest + Disease Info

• Diseases: no targets
• Pests: Allium Leaf Miner. Check with a local extension agent for specific recommendations and flight calendar. Cover for exclusion.

Harvest

• Undercut or hand pull when shafts have reached ½” in diameter. Remove dead/damaged leaves and bunch in-field—3-4 roots per bunch depending on size.
• Average weight per plant: 3 ounces
• Do not trim greens.
• Spray soil from roots.

Storage

• Store at 35-40ºF for best results. Will store up to 2 weeks in plastic.

Seed Specs

• 142,000 seeds/pound, approximately 200,000 seeds/acre

Use the whole plant—tops and all—sautéed, grilled, roasted or simply raw. 

To sauté, slice Sweet Garleek stalks in half lengthwise and rinse under cold water. Slice stalks into ¼-inch pieces—greens included! Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add a generous glug of olive oil and add sliced Sweet Garleek. Stir and sauté for 10 to 15 seconds. Add a heavy pinch of salt and a splash of water and cover with a lid. Keep cooking over medium-high heat for 30 to 45 seconds, and remove from heat.