The ultimate summer leek! Perfect for baby gourmet leeks. Left to mature, the white stalks are up to 35cm long. Varna grows very quickly. An excellent substitute for onions in many spi^s and meals. Timing: for autumn harvest, sow seeds indoors Feb-March and transplant outside in May. For an overwintering crop, sow winter-hardy varieties from March to mid-June. Seeding: For transplants, sow seed 1cm deep 1cm apart in rows 7cm apart in your tray. Move seedlings when pencil thick to a trench 15cm deep and wide, and bury to the first leaf joint apart in rows that are 30-45cm. Direct sow after last frost to same plant and row spacing as transplants. Growing: Heavy but well-drained soils, not suitable for oinions, will grow leeks well. Winter leeks will supply the table from October-April. Seed specs: Canada no1 germination standard: 65%

Transplants are preferred for home gardeners. Sow 3 seeds 5mm-1cm (¼-½") deep in each cell of a 72-cell tray. Transplant as a clump, spacing each 12-15cm (5-6") apart in rows 45-75cm (18-30") apart. Scallions can be spaced at 2-5cm (1-2") apart in rows 15cm (6") apart.

Choose sweet onion varieties for enjoying raw or cooked within a couple of months of harvest. Storage types keep much longer, and will last until the follwoing spring in the right conditions. All onions are photoperiodic - day length triggers bulbing. Our varieties are all "long day" types, suitable for northern US and Canada.

Botrytis blast and downy mildew are common leaf diseases. One starts with white spots and streaks, the other with purple-grey areas on leaves. Leaves wither from the top down and plants die prematurely. Separate the overwintered and spring crops because disease starts in older plants and moves to younger. Avoid overhead watering and plant in open sunny locations. Use lots of compost and practice strict sanitation and rotation procedures. Spraying with copper hydroxide every 7-14 days at the first sign of a problem may help prevent disease from spreading.

Transplants are preferred for home gardeners. Sow 3 seeds 5mm-1cm (¼-½") deep in each cell of a 72-cell tray. Transplant as a clump, spacing each 12-15cm (5-6") apart in rows 45-75cm (18-30") apart. Scallions can be spaced at 2-5cm (1-2") apart in rows 15cm (6") apart.

Choose sweet onion varieties for enjoying raw or cooked within a couple of months of harvest. Storage types keep much longer, and will last until the follwoing spring in the right conditions. All onions are photoperiodic - day length triggers bulbing. Our varieties are all "long day" types, suitable for northern US and Canada.

Stop watering in the beginning of August to mature the bulbs in dry soil. After half the tops have fallen, push over the remainder, wait a week and lift the bulbs. Curing is essential for long storage. Spread bulbs out in the sun for about a week, covering them at night to protect from dew. When the outer layer of the onion changes from moist to dry and crisp, it is cured. If weather is poor, cure inside. Storage: Keep onions in mesh sacks or hang in braids so they get good ventilation, and hang sacks where air is dry and very cool, but not freezing. Check them regularly and remove any sprouting or rotting onions. Well-cured storage onions should keep until late spring.

Botrytis blast and downy mildew are common leaf diseases. One starts with white spots and streaks, the other with purple-grey areas on leaves. Leaves wither from the top down and plants die prematurely. Separate the overwintered and spring crops because disease starts in older plants and moves to younger. Avoid overhead watering and plant in open sunny locations. Use lots of compost and practice strict sanitation and rotation procedures. Spraying with copper hydroxide every 7-14 days at the first sign of a problem may help prevent disease from spreading.