Variety traits

Leek bulb

Allium porrum L.

In leeks, a true bulb does not form; instead, it is replaced by a false stem, or 'shank,' consisting of tightly overlapping leaf sheaths. This organ is the plant's primary productive element, with quality determined by the length and diameter of the blanched portion.

In the reference 54 varieties crop Leek, where this is mentioned in the description.

The false bulb is a cylindrical organ formed by leaf bases that create a dense structure when tightly packed. At the base of the plant, some varieties may develop a slight thickening, the degree of which serves as a selection trait.

When assessing market quality, key parameters include the length and cross-sectional diameter of the false stem. The standard length of the blanched portion ranges from 10 to 60 cm, and the diameter varies from 2 to 7 cm, with the minimum acceptable market diameter being 8 mm.

The agronomy of the crop focuses on maximizing the development of the 'shank' and its blanching, which is achieved through hilling to protect the leaf bases from light. Inadequate cultivation conditions, including lack of moisture or failure to hill, lead to the coarsening and thinning of the false stem.

General information about the subject — on the page Bulb.

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Allium porrum L. · Leek

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