I like to try new varieties each year. Not new varieties of everything, just a few when something catches my eye. Well this year it was Bulgarian giant leeks and they’re amazing.
As the name suggests, they’re very large although mine have been remarkably tall but not hugely thick. As usual I followed the first early potatoes in the polytunnel with leeks after restoring the nutrient levels. Things ran late this year, partly weather, partly me. Still, they’ve performed incredibly.
Bulgarian Giant Leeks on our table outside
I also planted a bed up with them outside, even later though. They’ve done well considering but getting them in the ground a month or six weeks earlier would have been ideal.
Normal Leeks
Normally with leeks, I start them by sowing a couple of seeds each in Bustaseed modules thinning to one plant per module. Once large enough, I dib a hole and drop the seedling in, give them a drink and that’s about it until harvest.
Self-Blanching Leeks
These giant Bulgarian leeks are different – basically they’re basically self-blanching. The leaves seem to contract tightly at the blanching point so the shaft below blanches. Show growers collar their leeks at the blanching point to get the same result. Kitchen growers either use the hole planting method or plant in a trench and earth up as the plants grow to achieve a blanched stem.
The soil blanching does have a drawback in that soil tends to get in the leek’s shaft requiring cleaning when preparing for the table but it’s faster than individually collaring each leek.
Easier Cultivation Bulgarian Giant Leeks
With these Bulgarian leeks being self-blanching, a simpler cultivation system will suffice. Actually, changing the method should produce an even better result for less effort. Next year I’ll sow in standard seed trays and plant out earlier in the same way as an onion seedling.
Because they grow so much, a richer soil higher in nitrogen than usual for leeks to feed that growth seems correct. A mid-season top up with a nitrogen rich fertiliser is in order. At a spacing of 15cm or 6” apart each way, a large crop can be had from a small area.
Close Spacing & High Yielding
This close spacing also has a benefit of supporting the leeks. Because they grow so tall, they have a tendency to fall over and are vulnerable to autumn storms. A wind-sheltered spot will help avoid that.
Bulgarian Giant Leeks Hardiness
They’re reportedly not as hardy as most leeks. That’s not a problem for the leeks I’ve got in the polytunnel but potentially a problem for those grown in the open. Having said that, we’ve not had a really harsh winter since 2010-11.
I’d suggest growing the Bulgarian giant leeks as an early along with a very hardy variety like Blue Solaise as a late crop and back-up for a hard winter.
In the Kitchen
Trimmed Giant Leeks ready for the kitchen
Preparation for cooking is easier with the Bulgarian Giant Leeks. Remove the roots by cutting at the base plate and cut the loose leaves off a few inches above the blanching line. Peel the outer papery leaves away and you’re good to go. That’s just the same as any other leek except that, with the tall growth habit, soil in the shaft doesn’t seem to be a problem.
No lengthways slicing and fanning under running water required! Preparation is, therefore, faster.
Flavour
The flavour of the Bulgarian giant leeks is just the same as other leek varieties. We’ve some great leek recipes on the web site.
How Big Are Bulgarian Giant Leeks?
Harvested from the polytunnel the Bulgarian Giant Leeks were around 190cm – about 6 feet in old money tall. Trimming for the kitchen reduced that to 75cm to 90cm, 2’6″ to 3′
They weren’t very thick, running around 25mm to 40mm in diameter. That’s an inch to one and half inches. I think they’d have thickened further if I’d planted earlier and fed them more. Possibly running to double what I got this time.
In terms of weight, they are running at 200 grams to 300 grams prepared. That’s 7 to 11 ounces. Next year with luck I’ll double those weights.
More Information
I came across this US homesteading blog with a great piece on the leeks
I’ve bought Bulgarian giant Leek seeds for 2025. I will be multi sowing them around 3-4 seeds per cell. Sorry you have to wait next year for results.