Short-stemmed Leek
Bandit is a winter-hardy, open-pollinated leek that matures in 120 days from transplants, delivering tender, mild harvests perfect for soups, stews, and fresh preparations. This compact variety thrives in full sun with consistent moisture and fertile soil, reaching harvest size in roughly four months. Its cold tolerance and reliable performance make it a dependable choice for gardeners seeking a long-season crop that stores well and handles harsh conditions.
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Perennial
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Bandit's exceptional winter hardiness stands out among leek varieties, allowing it to withstand cold snaps that would challenge less robust cultivars. The compact growth habit fits efficiently into garden spacing, with plants needing just 4 inches between neighbors and 12 inches between rows. As an open-pollinated variety, it produces true seed, letting dedicated gardeners save their own stock year after year while enjoying reliable performance from transplant to storage.
Bandit leeks shine in traditional preparations where their mild character and tender texture take center stage. Slice them into soups and stews, where they soften into sweet, subtle layers of flavor. Grill whole or halved leeks to caramelize their natural sugars, or chop them finely for omelets and other egg dishes. Their versatility extends to raw preparations as well; tender finger-sized leeks can be sliced thin and tossed into salads for a gentle onion-family presence.
Sow seeds in flats 10 to 12 weeks before your last spring frost, placing them 1/4 inch deep and 1/4 inch apart. You can also start seeds in plug flats, thinning to one plant per cell. Keep seedlings in a warm environment and thin or divide them as needed before they become crowded.
When seedlings reach approximately 8 inches tall and pencil thickness (typically in late spring, 10 to 12 weeks after sowing), transplant them outdoors. Separate individual plants carefully and plant them 6 inches apart in rows spaced at least 12 inches apart. Use a dibble or similar tool to create holes 6 inches deep, then place each leek seedling in the hole, leaving only 2 to 3 inches of leaf above the soil surface. Do not firm the soil around the seedling; instead, let irrigation or rainfall gradually fill the dibble hole naturally. If your transplants have grown taller than 5 inches before transplanting, cut the tops back to 3 inches to reduce transplant shock.
Direct sowing is possible; thin seedlings to the strongest plant when they reach 4 to 5 inches tall.
Bandit leeks are ready to harvest approximately 120 days after transplanting. Begin harvesting once leeks reach 1/2 inch in diameter or larger for the best texture and flavor. For milder, more tender leeks suitable for raw applications like salads, harvest them at finger size while they are still young. Leek tops do not die back like onion tops, so you can harvest at any point once the plant reaches usable size. In areas where the ground freezes, you can leave leeks in the garden and harvest as needed until frost arrives; in milder climates, leeks often store in the garden through winter, allowing you to harvest throughout the season.
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