Allium porrum 'Zermatt'
leek 'Zermatt'
A hardy perennial usually grown as an annual vegetable, with thick, semi-upright, mid-green leaves. Produces long, slender stems and is ready to harvest from November depending on sowing time. A giant swiss variety which shows some resistance to rust and is ideal for baby leek production
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | Green | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Green | |||
Autumn | Green | |||
Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Allium are bulbous herbaceous perennials with a strong onion or garlic scent, linear, strap-shaped or cylindrical basal leaves and star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers in an umbel on a leafless stem
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter, preferably in full sun though they will tolerate partial shade. For longer blanched stems, draw up soil around the stems in late summer and early autumn. See leek cultivation for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
Suggested planting locations and garden types
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs and snails, leek moth, onion fly, and onion thrips
Diseases
May be susceptible to leek rust, although this variety shows some resistance, onion white rot, downy mildews, foot and root rots, fungal leaf spots, and smuts
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