The Naming of Leeks

[veggiechicken]

Just sorting out my leek collection and I'm confused about their names.
I bought some called "Tornado" from a small company and the packet had no growing information.

"Tornado" is sold by DTBrown as Autumn Mammoth 2 (Tornado).

MrF sells Autumn Mammoth 2 - Snowstar.

Are they different varieties or are Autumn Mammoth 2 & Tornado & Snowstar the same leek....................

Was there an Autumn Mammoth 1?

Is there really much difference between leeks anyway?

[mcdood]

Is there really much difference between leeks anyway?

Yes on our allotment there are 2 varieties: those with allium leaf miner and those that are about to be visited by allium leaf miner.

[Small pumpkin]

Only difference I've noticed is short squat ( leaves almost all the way to the ground) or quite long ( leaves just on top, a bad impression of an anorexic pineapple )
All tast the same. To me anyway.

Can't help with name confusion, sorry.

So as ever not much help really

[bikermike]

From the title, I had visions of you naming all your individual leeks as they grew...

[veggiechicken]

From the title, I had visions of you naming all your individual leeks as they grew...

Of course I do, I need to know the variety as that is their surname.
For example, Thomas Tornado and Alex Autumn Mammoth.

I'd be so embarrassed to find that Thomas was not a Tornado but Alex's brother.

Hope you understand now why its so important.to know

[veggiechicken]

Only difference I've noticed is short squat ( leaves almost all the way to the ground) or quite long ( leaves just on top, a bad impression of an anorexic pineapple )
All tast the same. To me anyway.

Can't help with name confusion, sorry.

So as ever not much help really

Some have bluey leaves and some are paler, I have some that call themselves Violet but haven't tried them yet.

.......and some say they are summer leeks and some are over wintering


........and some say they are baby leeks (but every leek is a baby at some stage in its life).

[Nicos]

The French sell the bluer ones as winter hardy (remember we can get temps as low as -18C)

[Snoop Puss]

^That's worth knowing, thanks.

Leeks taste all the same to me. But I have to admit to growing mostly F1s because I want early (Megaton) and late (Sultan) leeks. The early ones are ready for picking at a decent size in early September.

[Lumpy]

Do you think that your leek quandary applies to other veg as well.
For instance - when Soopaseeders (hopefully a nonexistent supplier) announces that they have a new to them Lumpy Carrot that is fly resistant, quick maturing and a wonderful flavour they haven’t just renamed VC Carrot that is sold be a different supplier?

[Small pumpkin]

Some have bluey leaves and some are paler, I have some that call themselves Violet but haven't tried them yet.

.......and some say they are summer leeks and some are over wintering


........and some say they are baby leeks (but every leek is a baby at some stage in its life).

I do struggle with the summer/ winter thing ! ( on all veg )
I'm not very experienced with the leek growing thing I've only ever grown 3 varieties I always grow Musselburgh ( the short squat ones ).
Do violet actually look violet? They sound very exciting.
I'm not saying anything else or you'll come up with some weird and wonderful leek growing challenge

[veggiechicken]

Do violet actually look violet? They sound very exciting.
I'm not saying anything else or you'll come up with some weird and wonderful leek growing challenge

These are the violet ones - https://www.foodforests.eu/products/...er-violet-leaf

More at https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/e...t-victor-leek/

Its says the violet appears with the cold.

Hmmmmmmm - the leek challenge.
That's easy - sow leeks every month of the year and pick some every month too. Easy peasy.

[Snoop Puss]

I'm reminded of the Kalette/Pretty Posy sprouts that turned out to be the same.

I've just looked up Saint Victor on a French website. Looks green to me! They say it's an improvement on Bleu de Solaise:
https://www.fermedesaintemarthe.com/...victor-ab.aspx

[veggiechicken]

These look violetty https://www.semaille.com/poireau-dhi...166010629.html

[Small pumpkin]

They do look very pretty.

[Snadger]

There are loads of different cultivars none of which are alike. Some are frost hardy and can be picked right through until march and others are best harvested in September.

I have tried quite a few of them but usually now stick with Musselborough which seems to do well in my area. The only other leeks I will try are leeks grown from grass or pips of a show strain which come good in September.