Leeks are a superb food. Leeks are high in:
Leeks contain sulphur-rich compounds which have been shown to thin the blood, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Click this link to find the nutritional value/100 grams raw leek.
leek-dug-Pandora
The leek variety, Bandit F1 hybrid, has been a great success in the TopVeg garden.
Bandit-leeks-growing
We have been harvesting Bandit leeks since Christmas & they are still providing the kitchen with very tasty vegetables. Bandit survived the very cold, snowy weather and not one plant has bolted.
Leek-Bandit-in-ground
Characteristics of Leek – Bandit F1 Hybrid:
bandit-cleaned-leek
The leek variety, Bandit F1 hybrid, is exceptional, and well worth growing.
How to harvest leeks depends on which end of the season they are at.
Early season leeks are lifted by placing a fork under the roots. The roots hold
on tightly and the stem easily snaps off, if a fork is not used to loosen the roots.
Late leeks have a stronger stem and can be pulled, giving a slight twist to break the roots, so most of the root clump & soil stay in the ground.
leek-patch-February
We have an abundance of leeks in the vegetable garden, so this leek soup recipe is being much enjoyed!
Ingredients
cooking-leek-soup
Method:
Click the links below to buy the recipe books which show you how to cook what you grow:
Whilst trawling the net for inspiration of how to cook leeks, with recipes, the British Leek Association popped up! They have lots of new recipes for cooking leeks.
Leeks are a truly versatile vegetable:
prizewinner-leeks
Our leeks will see us through the winter- we have several months supply left in the ground. They seem particularly delicious this year, and the hard, frosty weather has not hurt them at all.
close-spaced-leeks
A recipe for leek soup:
Ingredients
cooking-leek-soup
Method:
Click this link for recipes showing how to cook leeks.
Leeks-February
This year we spaced the leeks 20cm apart in the row – quite close – and they look well.
close-spaced-leeks
Growing leeks closer together produces something like a mini-leek.
leeks---prizewinner
The leeks do not grow huge, and they are better to eat. We prefer a medium sized leek to a coarse giant one.
prizewinner-leeks
.There are several advantages of narrow spacing for leeks:
Planting leeks with narrow spacing has been well worthwhile.
Baby/mini leeks are used for salad, stir-fries, soups and stews. Children like them because they are pretty, mild and different.
To grow baby/mini leeks:
leek-seedlings
Baby/Mini Leek Varieties
Swiss Giant Evita
Baby Jolant
The leeks are cropping well and will be in season until the end of March, so we should be fit & healthy as leeks are a super food!
The leeks were grown from seed and transplanted into the leek bed in early July.
Leek-harvested
The edible parts of the leek are the white base and the light green stalk.
Leeks qualify as a super food because:
TopVeg has grown Pandora, for mid-season, and Musselborough & Autumn Giant for a late winter crop. Leeks are a true super-food which can be grown in the vegetable garden throughout the winter.
fresh-leek
The leeks in the vegetable garden, which were transplanted from the nursery bed
on 15 July, have established well.
leek-bed-23august
leek-23August
The leeks are hoed before the weeds are too big.
hoeing-leeks
The leeks in the vegetable garden will provide fresh veg throughout the winter.
The main points to consider when choosing which varieties of leeks to
grow are:
* size
* days to maturity
* winter hardiness
*Short season leek varieties tend to be
* smaller
* less winter hardy
A popular short season leek is King Richard. It is
* very early
* high yielding
* extra long, with a slim stalk
* mild flavoured
* easy as it does not need earthing up
* OK till Christmas
*Long season leeks
* may be harvested through the winter
* are cold hardy
* develop fatter stalks
Common long season varieties include:
* Autumn Giant
long season of production, stands cold, frosty weather, high yields, medium stems
leek-autumn-giant
* Autumn Mammoth
matures in late autumn, high yielding leek, thick stems, good resistance to rust
* Pandora
productive, long season, good tolerance of leek rust
Mature-leek-Pandora
* Musselburg
very winter hardy, mid season, lasts right through winter, good length
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