Woman holds several Bulgarian Giant Leeks against a white background.
Close-up of Monik holding Bulgarian Giant Leek.
Single Bulgarian Giant Leek on a wooden board.
Child holding Bulgarian Giant Leeks inside a greenhouse.
Woman holds several Bulgarian Giant Leeks against a white background.
Close-up of Monik holding Bulgarian Giant Leek.
Single Bulgarian Giant Leek on a wooden board.
Child holding Bulgarian Giant Leeks inside a greenhouse.

Leek Seeds,
Bulgarian Giant

4.514 Reviews#LK103 · 200 seeds
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Description

A true garden giant! This traditional Bulgarian variety is famous for its mild, sweet flavor and its remarkable size. In our Missouri trial gardens, we’ve grown plants reaching 6 feet from root to tip, and sometimes even longer. The broad leaves and thick, snowy-white stems make a striking sight in the garden, while staying tender and delicious in the kitchen. Perfect for soups, roasting, or enjoying fresh, Bulgarian Giant also makes a wonderful novelty for children and families, ideal for a “who can grow the biggest leek?” competition! With a recorded history dating back to at least the late 19th century, Generations of Bulgarian gardeners treasured this variety for both market and home use, and it remains a true heirloom worth preserving.

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Allium ampeloprasum
Life Cycle
Biennial
Sun Requirement
6–12 hr.
Days to Germinate
7–14
Days to Maturity
110
Planting Depth
¼ in.
Plant Spacing
4–6 in.
Ideal Temperature
45–80°F
Frost Hardy
Yes

Growing Guide

When to Grow

Bulgarian Giant needs the full 110 days to reach its size, so start it indoors in late winter. Set the seed ¼ inch deep in pots at least six inches deep — this is crucial, do not sow leeks in shallow pots. Seeds need no excessive heat or sunlight and germinate in 7–14 days at 60–65°F.

Harden the plants off outdoors once the soil can be worked in spring, and set them out 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost into rich, finely worked garden soil.

How to Sow and Plant

  • Seeds do not need excessive heat or sunlight to germinate.
  • Temperatures of 60-65 F are best.
  • Sow seeds ½ inch in pots at least six inches deep. This is crucial; do not sow in shallow pots.
  • Seeds germinate in 7-14 days.
  • Ideal germination temperature is 60-65 F.

How to Grow

  • Harden off plants outside once soil can be worked in spring.
  • Dig a trench 6 inches deep and place seedlings 6 inches apart in a row at the bottom of the trench.
  • As the leeks grow, gradually fill in the trench; this is called blanching and it will keep the “stems” white and tender.
  • Leeks need rich, finely worked garden soil.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • Leeks are relatively pest and disease-free.
  • The biggest challenge is to keep them free from weeds, as all onion family members are terrible at competing with weeds.
  • Try mulching with plastic mulch or a thick layer of other mulch to keep the weed competition down.

How to Save Seeds

  • Leeks will not cross with any other allium (onion) family members, but they do require 1 mile isolation from other leek varieties for seed saving.
  • Leeks are biennial.
  • In mild winter areas, simply allow them to overwinter and protect with mulch if temperatures below freezing are expected.
  • In cold climates, leeks will need to be dug up and stored in a root cellar. Replant in spring, and allow them to flower.
  • Leek seeds can be stored for up to 3 years, but germination is usually only as high as 50 percent.

FAQ

Why does this leek need such deep pots to start?

Sow the seed ¼ inch deep in pots at least six inches deep. This is crucial — do not sow leeks in shallow pots.

How large does Bulgarian Giant actually get?

In our Missouri trial gardens we have grown plants reaching 6 feet from root to tip, and sometimes longer, with broad leaves and thick, snowy-white stems. It makes a fine novelty for a “who can grow the biggest leek?” competition.

How do I get long, white, tender stems?

Dig a trench 6 inches deep and set the seedlings 6 inches apart along the bottom of it. As the leeks grow, gradually fill the trench back in. This is called blanching, and it keeps the stems white and tender.

Customer reviews

4.5 / 5 14 Reviews

What gardeners are saying

  • Grows huge: Stalks reach 3 feet or more and thumb thick by fall.

  • Low maintenance: Once established it sizes up with little fuss and no pests.

  • Sweet, mild flavor: Goes into soups, stocks and stir-fries all winter long.

  • Near-total germination: Close to 100 percent germination when started indoors.

  • Heads up: Slow to size up; give it a long season and some patience.

More to grow!

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