Perpetual Leek (Dividing Leek or Multiplying)

gcdouglass · 02-13-2008, 07:24 PM

I am looking for a source for perpetual leek.

An old market gardener in my area states that this variety was once grown in my area of MD (Howard County) in many family gardens. The description I have is that the leek would have the diameter of a quarter. The large plants would be harvested and the off shoots would continue to grow. I have come across references to this variety in several books, but have been unable to find a source.

A couple years ago I was able to get some Babbington's leek from Peace Seeds with the hope this was what I wanted. So far the this variety has not been what am searching for only sending a few leaves up from the bulbs. Only a couple bulbs have stems approaching the diameter of a dime and most are not even that large.

Any sources of this variety or additional information on it would be appreciated.

WI LO M · 02-13-2008, 07:25 PM

No, it's not Babbington's, that's a close kin to elephant garlic. A perpetual leek would be any normal leek left to grow into its second season. Leeks are biennial. The second year, the plant sends up a flower stalk. It will also send up fresh new plants. These come from tiny corms which are formed at the base of the plant. Even the common American Flag will do that.

orflo · 02-13-2008, 07:28 PM

There are quite a bit of local varieties of perennial leek circulating over here in Europe. Most of them only make 'side leeks' , I've got one that forms seeds in summer, which is quite rare. You can eat the leek as 'leek' in spring, or you can cut the leaves all through the winter, they will grow back easily. Or you can eat the bulbs in August, dig them up, plant them out and just eat the rest. In Germany they have a specific name for perennial leek: Perlzwiebel, (zwiebel means onion, perl is pearl). Traditionally these were the 'onions' put in glass jars with vinegar, pepper , and other herbs. Nowadays only real onions are used for this, although the practice of canning these perlzwiebel is still being maintained in parts of Germany and Austria. These 'perlzwiebel' was selected in ancient times to produce these bulbs. And the capability of producing seed was out-selected, so the leek could put more energy into the forming of bulbs.

My variety is an old flemish variety, it must date way back, I couldn't find a true origin; the name is 'oerprei', that can be translated as leek from pre-historical times.

In France you can still find a 'poireau des vignes' (leek of the vineyard), it grows wild over there: allium polyanthum. This is one of the great-great-great-grandfathers of the Perlzwiebel (which is allium ampeloprasum) and of our more common leek. There seems to be no consensus on the origin of leek. In fact, there are three groups: the common 'European' leek, an Egyptian 'kurrat' sort of leek, and an Iranian, Taree Irani. Were these three derived from one ancestor, or did they have three different ancestors?
Frank

orflo · 02-13-2008, 07:30 PM

Here's a picture of this 'oerprei':

zebraman · 02-13-2008, 07:34 PM

Hey Gcdouglas; This place sells them (perennial leeks). They are in the UK.
http://www.risc.org.uk/garden/plants/plants.html
Also check with Association Kokopeilli.

gcdouglass · 02-13-2008, 07:35 PM

zebraman I could not find a link to a source on that page only a link to babbington's leek what I have.

I believe what I am seeking is one of the leeks that orflo mentions. The perpetual leek that I am seeking only spreads through offshoots never flowering and producing seeds.

zebraman · 02-13-2008, 07:35 PM

Oerprei is the Dutch name. The Latin name is Allium ampeloprasum which should make it easier to track down.

stevil · 02-13-2008, 07:37 PM

Frank: Very interesting to read about the Perennial Leek...

I took this picture at Valmer this summer:

I also sowed Pearl Onions from a Swedish SSE'r this winter....from China I think....

Would also be very interested in a bit of your 'oerprei'....

orflo · 02-13-2008, 07:39 PM

Sorry for my picture, it doesn't seem to be working;I'll try again:

It's quite different from Seb's Valmer leek, isn't it?
There used to be a method for propagating 'common' leek in Switzerland and also Germany: if they had two or more varieties of leek, they would cut the flowers in the pre-blossoming stage, this enhances the forming of small bulbils, compared to garlic, but deeper in the ground. These bulbils contained three to five smaller bulbils which were of course genetically identical to the original variety. I will try this this year, the surplus of bulbils can be eaten, the taste is described as a mild version of garlic.
Frank

gcdouglass · 02-13-2008, 07:40 PM

Thanks for all the information on growing leeks. This past year was my first growing any (Jaune de Poitou). I will look for new plants as I am growing this variety for seed to fufill my SSE relisting obligation.

Any chance the Los Mol leek might be what I am looking for?

WI LO M · 02-13-2008, 07:41 PM

Los Mols is basically a wild version of elephant garlic which, of course, is also a leek. If not harvested, and left alone for a few years, elephant garlic also can form a cluster of small plants similar to those in Stevil's photo.

carosello · 02-13-2008, 07:42 PM

Perpetual Leek: For many years I have grown a number of Perlzwiebel. Most of them came from the Gatersleben repository, and two of them came from SSE members. The latter two bloom and bear seed, and produce large compound bulbs of spherical bulblets of varying size. SSE maintains one called Portuguese Garlic with well-grown bulbs almost 3 inches diameter. The name of these Perlzwiebel is Allium ampeloprasum, vineyard leek. In the literature I have references to some other varieties, but don't have the specifics right at hand. Don Johnson in Wisconsin has all of my Perlzwiebel accessionss and has made pickles of some of them. Is this helpful?

Carosello

gcdouglass · 02-13-2008, 07:43 PM

Thanks everyone now I know that I am looking for Allium ampeloprasum (Oerprei, Perlzwiebel, Portugese Garlic).

I have a request off for some Oerprei. "Perpetual leek" by the other names has been listed in past yearbooks. So I should be able to try several varieties to see what produces the best for me.

Raymondo · 08-10-2008, 01:11 AM

I have a leek, given to me by someone, that produces lots of offsets (little leeks) that grow around the base. When I harvest, I replant the little ones, if needed. I've never seen flowers but I've never left them past eating stage, about an inch thick. Now I'm curious so I'll leave a few to see what happens.

Carol the Dabbler · 11-03-2009, 10:26 AM

Hi, G. C. If you're still looking for a perpetual / dividing / multiplying leek, it looks like Southern Exposure (www.southernexposure.com) can help you. They now carry starts for what they call a Perennial Leek (code 66801), which they describe as follows:

"Hardy perennial leek. Leaves die back in July/August and resprout in September. Makes loads of little bulbs (~5-20 per plant) that will also resprout. Young greens can be eaten all winter, or left to mature until February and then eaten as a slender sweet leek all spring."

Apparently these are a true perennial, because the description goes on to say that they should be divided every few years to avoid overcrowding.

Note: Southern Exposure also carries seed for the Evergreen Hardy White Onion, Bunching (code 66501).

02-13-2008, 07:24 PM	#1
gcdouglass Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7	Perpetual Leek (Dividing Leek or Multiplying) I am looking for a source for perpetual leek. An old market gardener in my area states that this variety was once grown in my area of MD (Howard County) in many family gardens. The description I have is that the leek would have the diameter of a quarter. The large plants would be harvested and the off shoots would continue to grow. I have come across references to this variety in several books, but have been unable to find a source. A couple years ago I was able to get some Babbington's leek from Peace Seeds with the hope this was what I wanted. So far the this variety has not been what am searching for only sending a few leaves up from the bulbs. Only a couple bulbs have stems approaching the diameter of a dime and most are not even that large. Any sources of this variety or additional information on it would be appreciated.

08-10-2008, 01:11 AM	#14
Raymondo From paddock to plate Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Armidale, NSW, Australia Posts: 160	I have a leek, given to me by someone, that produces lots of offsets (little leeks) that grow around the base. When I harvest, I replant the little ones, if needed. I've never seen flowers but I've never left them past eating stage, about an inch thick. Now I'm curious so I'll leave a few to see what happens. __________________ Ray

11-03-2009, 10:26 AM	#15
Carol the Dabbler Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1	Hi, G. C. If you're still looking for a perpetual / dividing / multiplying leek, it looks like Southern Exposure (www.southernexposure.com) can help you. They now carry starts for what they call a Perennial Leek (code 66801), which they describe as follows: "Hardy perennial leek. Leaves die back in July/August and resprout in September. Makes loads of little bulbs (~5-20 per plant) that will also resprout. Young greens can be eaten all winter, or left to mature until February and then eaten as a slender sweet leek all spring." Apparently these are a true perennial, because the description goes on to say that they should be divided every few years to avoid overcrowding. Note: Southern Exposure also carries seed for the Evergreen Hardy White Onion, Bunching (code 66501). Last edited by Carol the Dabbler; 11-06-2009 at 09:56 PM.

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02-13-2008, 07:25 PM	#2
WI LO M Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 153	No, it's not Babbington's, that's a close kin to elephant garlic. A perpetual leek would be any normal leek left to grow into its second season. Leeks are biennial. The second year, the plant sends up a flower stalk. It will also send up fresh new plants. These come from tiny corms which are formed at the base of the plant. Even the common American Flag will do that.

02-13-2008, 07:28 PM	#3
orflo Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 72	There are quite a bit of local varieties of perennial leek circulating over here in Europe. Most of them only make 'side leeks' , I've got one that forms seeds in summer, which is quite rare. You can eat the leek as 'leek' in spring, or you can cut the leaves all through the winter, they will grow back easily. Or you can eat the bulbs in August, dig them up, plant them out and just eat the rest. In Germany they have a specific name for perennial leek: Perlzwiebel, (zwiebel means onion, perl is pearl). Traditionally these were the 'onions' put in glass jars with vinegar, pepper , and other herbs. Nowadays only real onions are used for this, although the practice of canning these perlzwiebel is still being maintained in parts of Germany and Austria. These 'perlzwiebel' was selected in ancient times to produce these bulbs. And the capability of producing seed was out-selected, so the leek could put more energy into the forming of bulbs. My variety is an old flemish variety, it must date way back, I couldn't find a true origin; the name is 'oerprei', that can be translated as leek from pre-historical times. In France you can still find a 'poireau des vignes' (leek of the vineyard), it grows wild over there: allium polyanthum. This is one of the great-great-great-grandfathers of the Perlzwiebel (which is allium ampeloprasum) and of our more common leek. There seems to be no consensus on the origin of leek. In fact, there are three groups: the common 'European' leek, an Egyptian 'kurrat' sort of leek, and an Iranian, Taree Irani. Were these three derived from one ancestor, or did they have three different ancestors? Frank

02-13-2008, 07:30 PM	#4
orflo Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 72	Here's a picture of this 'oerprei':

02-13-2008, 07:34 PM	#5
zebraman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Venice,CA. zone 10 Posts: 257	Hey Gcdouglas; This place sells them (perennial leeks). They are in the UK. http://www.risc.org.uk/garden/plants/plants.html Also check with Association Kokopeilli.

02-13-2008, 07:35 PM	#6
gcdouglass Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7	zebraman I could not find a link to a source on that page only a link to babbington's leek what I have. I believe what I am seeking is one of the leeks that orflo mentions. The perpetual leek that I am seeking only spreads through offshoots never flowering and producing seeds.

02-13-2008, 07:37 PM	#8
stevil Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 46	Frank: Very interesting to read about the Perennial Leek... I took this picture at Valmer this summer: I also sowed Pearl Onions from a Swedish SSE'r this winter....from China I think.... Would also be very interested in a bit of your 'oerprei'....

02-13-2008, 07:39 PM	#9
orflo Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 72	Sorry for my picture, it doesn't seem to be working;I'll try again: It's quite different from Seb's Valmer leek, isn't it? There used to be a method for propagating 'common' leek in Switzerland and also Germany: if they had two or more varieties of leek, they would cut the flowers in the pre-blossoming stage, this enhances the forming of small bulbils, compared to garlic, but deeper in the ground. These bulbils contained three to five smaller bulbils which were of course genetically identical to the original variety. I will try this this year, the surplus of bulbils can be eaten, the taste is described as a mild version of garlic. Frank

02-13-2008, 07:40 PM	#10
gcdouglass Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7	Thanks for all the information on growing leeks. This past year was my first growing any (Jaune de Poitou). I will look for new plants as I am growing this variety for seed to fufill my SSE relisting obligation. Any chance the Los Mol leek might be what I am looking for?

02-13-2008, 07:41 PM	#11
WI LO M Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 153	Los Mols is basically a wild version of elephant garlic which, of course, is also a leek. If not harvested, and left alone for a few years, elephant garlic also can form a cluster of small plants similar to those in Stevil's photo.

02-13-2008, 07:42 PM	#12
carosello Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8	Perpetual Leek: For many years I have grown a number of Perlzwiebel. Most of them came from the Gatersleben repository, and two of them came from SSE members. The latter two bloom and bear seed, and produce large compound bulbs of spherical bulblets of varying size. SSE maintains one called Portuguese Garlic with well-grown bulbs almost 3 inches diameter. The name of these Perlzwiebel is Allium ampeloprasum, vineyard leek. In the literature I have references to some other varieties, but don't have the specifics right at hand. Don Johnson in Wisconsin has all of my Perlzwiebel accessionss and has made pickles of some of them. Is this helpful? Carosello

02-13-2008, 07:43 PM	#13
gcdouglass Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 7	Thanks everyone now I know that I am looking for Allium ampeloprasum (Oerprei, Perlzwiebel, Portugese Garlic). I have a request off for some Oerprei. "Perpetual leek" by the other names has been listed in past yearbooks. So I should be able to try several varieties to see what produces the best for me.