Autumn Leek Carentan 2 is an organically grown, very popular and reliable leek variety. It originates from Italy. This variety has a delicious flavour and it produces large leeks with soft, thick stems with blueish green leaves. This very hardy and fast growing variety can be harvested from October till the end of January. Can witstand cold. Can be kept frozen to store.
Leek is a very healthy and versatile vegetable. Leek contains a.o.: vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B11, C and K. And the minerals: calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphor, potassium, sodium and zinc. It also contains a lot of fibre, nutrients and little calories. The concentration of healthy nutrients is highest in the green part of the leeks. You can cook, stir-fry, stew, braise, cook in the oven, steam and add it to soups, stews, Indonesian fried rice dishes and bami, mashed potato stews, casseroles and as a vegetable. The flavour of leek combines very well with a.o.: garlic, chicken, beef, pork, minced meat, tuna-fish, salmon, cheese, potatoes, apple, eggs, onions, parsley, lemon, curry powder, ginger, nutmeg, chillies, soy sauce, oregano, dill, pasta and red wine. Leek is also very delicious in combination with several other vegetables like: lettuce, carrots, sweet peppers, courgette, tomatoes, broccoli, celeriac, sweet corn and spinach. Hardy annual.
Soaking: 24 hours
Indoor sowing: February - March
Outdoor sowing under glass: beginning of March - beginning of April
Outdoor sowing: beginning of April - beginning of May
Germination: 14 - 18 days
Germinationtemp.: 15 - 26 °C
Sowing depth: 1 - 1½ cm
Plant distance: 20 cm
Transplanting outdoors: end of May - middle of July
Plant position: sunny
Harvestperiod: October - January
The sowing of leek is divided in 2 different groups: summer- and early autumn sowings or late autumn- and early winter sowings. This sowing guide is for the late autumn- and early wintersowing.
Sow indoors from February on. Sow in loose, airy and moist potting soil. Sow in trays and cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. You can soak the seeds for a better and quicker germination approx. 24 hours prior to sowing in tepid water. Keep moist and warm. Make sure the temperature is as even as possible and don't let the temperature drop during the night. Harden the seedlings of, by putting them outdoors during the day for 10 - 14 days from the beginning of May, when there's no longer any danger of nightfrosts. After this you can put the seedlings, when they're about as thick and as long as a pencil, outdoors in the soil. Remove 1/3 of the top and 1/3 of the roots to stimulate the growth.
You can sow outdoors under glass from the beginning of March. Sow in trays filled with loose, airy and moist potting soil. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. After this you can do the same as with the indoor sowing.
Sow outdoors from the beginning of April. Choose a sunny plot with good, loose, airy and moisture retaining soil. Sow thinly and cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Keep them approx. 20 cm apart. Put the seedlings, when they're about as thick and as long as a pencil, outdoors on their permanent spot. Remove 1/3 of the top and 1/3 of the roots to stimulate the growth. Put them in a hole approx. 5 cm wide and 10 - 15 cm deep. Keep them approx. 20 cm apart. Pour water in the holes to wash the roots. You need to earth the stems of the leeks up, to maintain a nice white lower part of the stems. Be careful you don't put soil between the leaves of your leeks.
This autumn leek variety needs a lot less time to grow than other autumn- and early winter leek varieties. Harvest the leeks from the beginning of October till the end of January. This leek has a good resistance against cold and frost and is kept on the land. Harvest the leeks a fresh as possible and use a pitchfork to get them carefully out of the soil. These leeks can be frozen to store.
