Leek is biennial and needs a full second year to flower, and its unusually large globe-shaped flower heads make it one of the more visually striking alliums to save seed from -- just remember elephant garlic is the same species and will cross with it.
New to terms like isolation distance or outcrossing? See the Seed-Saving Glossary.
Seed-Saving Difficulty
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Moderate Difficulty
Moderate crossing risk
How It's Pollinated
Insect-pollinated
(Moderate crossing risk)
Scientific name: Allium ampeloprasum
Domestic Crops It Can Cross With
- Other leek varieties flowering at the same time
- Elephant garlic -- also Allium ampeloprasum, and will cross with leek
Wild Relatives & Feral Species
- Wild leek relatives are uncommon in most home garden settings
Separation Distances Required
Minimum: 200m between varieties
Recommended: 400m for reliable purity
Strict: Bag flower heads and hand-pollinate for guaranteed purity
Seed-Saving Strategies
- Biennial -- overwinter plants in the ground through winter
- Allow the large round flower umbels to dry and seed to turn black
- Cut heads before seed shatters, finish drying indoors
- Store dry -- viable 2-3 years