Leek - Revision history

99.50.93.18 at 15:20, 16 May 2010

2010-05-16T15:20:48Z

Raffi at 18:03, 17 August 2009

2009-08-17T18:03:59Z

Raffi at 18:06, 11 July 2009

2009-07-11T18:06:34Z

Geetvin at 13:10, 11 July 2009

2009-07-11T13:10:24Z

Raffi at 20:17, 8 January 2009

2009-01-08T20:17:12Z

Raffi: Leek (vegetable) moved to Leek: on this site there are no other uses

2009-01-08T20:13:24Z

Leek (vegetable) moved to Leek: on this site there are no other uses

Envoy at 16:03, 26 September 2007

2007-09-26T16:03:13Z

New page

{{Otheruses}}
{{expert-subject|Plants}}
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Leek
| image = Leeks.JPG
| image_width = 250px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Alliaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Allium]]''
| species = ''[[Allium ampeloprasum|A. ampeloprasum]]''
| subspecies = '''''A. ampeloprasum'' var. ''porrum'''''
| trinomial = ''Allium ampeloprasum'' var. ''porrum''
| trinomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Jacques Étienne Gay|J.Gay]]
}}
The '''leek''' (''Allium ampeloprasum'' var. ''porrum'' (L.)) is a [[vegetable]] belonging, along with the [[onion]] and [[garlic]], to the ''[[Alliaceae]]'' family. Also in this species are two very different vegetables: the [[elephant garlic]] (''Allium ampeloprasum'' var. ''ampeloprasum''), grown for its bulbs, and [[kurrat]], which is grown in [[Egypt]] and elsewhere in the [[Middle East]] for its leaves. The leek is also sometimes classified as ''Allium porrum'' (L.).

==Form==
Rather than forming a tight bulb like the onion, the leek produces a long cylinder of bundled leaf sheaths which are generally blanched by pushing soil around them (trenching). They are often sold as small seedlings in flats which are started off early in [[greenhouse]]s, to be planted out as weather permits. Once established in the garden, leeks are hardy; many varieties can be left in the ground during the winter to be harvested as needed.

==Cultivars==
Leek cultivars can be subdivided in several ways, but the most common types are "summer leeks", intended for harvest in the season when planted, and overwintering leeks, meant to be harvested in the spring of the year following planting. Summer leek types are generally smaller than overwintering types; overwintering types are generally more strongly flavored.

==Growing==
Leeks are easy to grow from seed and tolerate standing in the field for an extended harvest. Leeks usually reach maturity in the autumn months, and they have few pest or disease problems. Leeks can be bunched and harvested early when they are about the size of a finger or pencil, or they can be thinned and allowed to grow to a much larger mature size. [[Hilling]] leeks can produce better specimens.

==Cuisine==
[[Image:Leeks produce-1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Leeks for sale.]]
The edible portions of the Leek are the white onion base and light green stalk. The onion-like layers form around a core. The tender core may be eaten, but as the leek ages the core becomes woody and generally unusable. Leeks are an essential ingredient of [[cock-a-leekie soup|cock-a-leekie]] and of [[vichyssoise]]. They can also be used raw in salads, doing especially well when they are the prime ingredient.

Because of their symbolism in [[Wales]] (see below), they have come to be used extensively in that country's cuisine.
{{clr}}

==Nutrition==

==Other Information==
Dried specimens from archaeological sites in [[ancient Egypt]], as well as wall carvings and drawings, led Zohary and Hopf to conclude that the leek was a part of the Egyptian diet "from at least the 2<sup>nd</sup> millennium B.C. onwards." They also allude to surviving texts that show it had been also grown in Mesopotamia from the beginning of the 2<sup>nd</sup> millennium B.C.<ref>Daniel Zohary and Maria Hopf, ''Domestication of plants in the Old World'', third edition (Oxford: University Press, 2000),p. 195</ref> The leek was the favorite vegetable of the Emperor [[Nero]], who consumed it most often in soup.

The leek is one of the [[national emblem]]s of [[Wales]], whose citizens wear it on [[St. David's Day]]. According to [[Welsh mythology|legend]], [[Cadwaladr|King Cadwallader]] ordered his Welsh soldiers to identify themselves by wearing the vegetable on their helmets in an ancient battle against the [[Saxons]] that took place in a leek field. This story may have been made up by the English poet [[Michael Drayton]], but it is known that the leek has been a symbol of Wales for a long time; [[Shakespeare]], for example, refers to the custom of wearing a leek as an "ancient tradition" in [[Henry V (play)|Henry V]]. In the play, [[Henry V of England|Henry]] tells [[Fluellen]] that he is wearing a leek "for I am Welsh, you know, good countryman". The 1985 and 1990 [[British One Pound coin]]s bear the design of a leek in a [[coronet]], representing Wales.

<gallery>
Image:Leek flowers.jpg|Leek flowers
Image:Double Leek Flower Head 2400px.jpg|Two blooming flower heads
Image:Single Leek Flower Head 2000px.jpg|Closeup of a blooming flower head
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of vegetables]]
*[[Culture of Wales]]

== Notes ==
<references/>

==External links==
{{commonscat|Allium ampeloprasum porrum}}
{{Cookbook|Leek}}
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ALAM Allium ampeloprasum L.] on US National PLANTS Database
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ALPO2 Allium porrum L.] on US National PLANTS Database
*[http://www.floridata.com/ref/A/alli_amp.cfm Allium ampeloprasum, Porrum] on Floridata
*[http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Allium+porrum Leek]: Plants For a Future database
*[http://www.foodmuseum.com/leek.html Food Museum page]
*[http://www.foodsdatabase.com/LinkedLabel.aspx?FoodId=24458 Nutrition facts]

[[Category:Allium]]
[[Category:Leaf vegetables]]
[[Category:National symbols of Wales]]
[[Category:Root vegetables]]
[[Category:Welsh cuisine]]
[[Category:Welsh mythology]]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 | common_names = Leek
 | growth_habit = herbaceous
-| high = ?   <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
+| high = 12" - 24"   <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
 | wide =     <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
 | origin = ?   <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:03, 17 August 2009
Line 35:		Line 35:

	When blanched leeks are not desired, the plants may be cultivated like onions; indeed, except for earthing up, the cultural methods employed for these two crops are identical. Leeks are marketed in bunches like young onions and, for winter use, are stored like celery. As a second crop to follow early cabbage, spinach, and the like, they are in general favor with market-gardeners. In soups and stews the rank odor disappears, leaving a mild and agreeable flavor.		When blanched leeks are not desired, the plants may be cultivated like onions; indeed, except for earthing up, the cultural methods employed for these two crops are identical. Leeks are marketed in bunches like young onions and, for winter use, are stored like celery. As a second crop to follow early cabbage, spinach, and the like, they are in general favor with market-gardeners. In soups and stews the rank odor disappears, leaving a mild and agreeable flavor.
		+	}}
		+
		+	{{Inc\|
		+	Allium porrum, Linn. Leek. Stout plant, 2 ft. or more: lvs. very broad and strongly conduplicate or keeled: scape arising the second season; fls. white or blush: bulb simple and scarcely more than an enlargement of the stalk. Eu.{{SCH}}
	}}		}}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Inc|
+__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
-Leek (''Allium Porrum''), a flat-leaved, bulbous, hardy biennial, is probably a native of the Mediterranean region, where, particularly in Egypt, it has been used for culinary and medicinal purposes since prehistoric time. All parts of the plant possess an offensive pungent odor and acrid taste due to an essential oil also characteristic of its close relative, the onion. In medicine, the bulb, like the onion, is used as a renal stimulant. The blanched stems and leaves are much employed in continental cookery as a flavoring for soups, stews, and so on, boiled and served like asparagus, and in the raw state.
+| name = ''A. ampeloprasum'' 'porrum'
+| common_names = Leek
-Except in the larger cities and among our foreign population, the leek is little used in America.
+| growth_habit = herbaceous
+| high = ?   <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
-Leek, though of the onion family, is differently treated and used. The object in its cultivation is to develop the leaves in such a manner that they become numerous; the flower-stem does not appear before the second year, hence the necessity of growing it to full size the first year. Sow the seed in March in a seed-bed (with slight bottom heat), in drills 2 or 3 inches apart; when large enough, thin out to stand 1 inch apart in the row, as they may attain the thickness of a fair- sized straw. In May or early June the seedlings are transplanted in the open ground; they are then cut half - way down and should also be set deep, so they will begin blanching when they attain a fair size. The soil best suited is a rich, moist, light loam; prior to the transplanting it should be well prepared with well- rotted stable manure, if possible. The plants are generally set in drills 12 to 15 inches apart, and 6 to 9 inches apart in the drills. Shortening both roots and stems is often advised. As the plants grow, the soil should be drawn loosely around the stems and lower leaves to insure blanching. They should be well cultivated, and when growing freely should be earthed up slightly with the hand-cultivator or hand-hoe. Some of the successful gardeners still cultivate them on the celery-trenching system; by this means they can be watered more thoroughly and will attain a much larger size; also can be conveniently left in the trench with slight protection, and taken therefrom for winter use. Care must be taken not to cover too early, as they decay easily, beginning at the end of the foliage; this destroys the appearance. The hardier kinds used for this purpose will blanch yellow down to the so-called stem, which is white to the root. Leeks planted out in May are ready for use in September; the sowings can be made earlier and later to suit the time of maturing, and can be sown in August and September in coldframes and wintered over with slight protection, then transplanted to the open ground in April. The varieties best known to American gardeners are London Flag, Large Musselburgh or Scotch Flag, Giant Carentan, and Large Rouen.
+| wide =     <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
+| origin = ?   <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
-When blanched leeks are not desired, the plants may be cultivated like onions; indeed, except for earthing up, the cultural methods employed for these two crops are identical. Leeks are marketed in bunches like young onions and, for winter use, are stored like celery. As a second crop to follow early cabbage, spinach, and the like, they are in general favor with market-gardeners. In soups and stews the rank odor disappears, leaving a mild and agreeable flavor.
+| poisonous =     <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
-}}
+| lifespan =     <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->
-{{Plantbox
+| exposure = ?   <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
 | color = IndianRed
 | image = Leeks.JPG
-| image_width = 180px
+| image_width = 180px    <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
 | regnum = Plantae
 | divisio = Magnoliophyta
@@ Line 23: / Line 29: @@
 }}
 The '''leek''' (''Allium ampeloprasum'' var. ''porrum'' (L.)) is a [[vegetable]] belonging, along with the [[onion]] and [[garlic]], to the ''[[Alliaceae]]'' family.  Also in this species are two very different vegetables:  the [[elephant garlic]] (''Allium ampeloprasum'' var. ''ampeloprasum''), grown for its bulbs, and [[kurrat]], which is grown in [[Egypt]] and elsewhere in the [[Middle East]] for its leaves.  The leek is also sometimes classified as ''Allium porrum'' (L.).
 Rather than forming a tight bulb like the onion, the leek produces a long cylinder of bundled leaf sheaths which are generally blanched by pushing soil around them (trenching). They are often sold as small seedlings in flats which are started off early in [[greenhouse]]s, to be planted out as weather permits.  Once established in the garden, leeks are hardy; many varieties can be left in the ground during the winter to be harvested as needed.
 ==Cultivars==
 Leek cultivars can be subdivided in several ways, but the most common types are "summer leeks", intended for harvest in the season when planted, and overwintering leeks, meant to be harvested in the spring of the year following planting. Summer leek types are generally smaller than overwintering types; overwintering types are generally more strongly flavored.
-==Growing==
+==Gallery==
 <gallery>
 Image:Leek flowers.jpg|Leek flowers
@@ Line 40: / Line 59: @@
 </gallery>
-==See also==
+==References==
-*[[List of vegetables]]
+*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
-*[[Culture of Wales]]
+<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
-== Notes ==
+==External links==
-<references/>
+*{{wplink}}
-==External links==
+{{stub}}
-{{commonscat|Allium ampeloprasum porrum}}
+[[Category:Categorize]]
-[[Category:Allium]]
+<!--  in order to add all the proper categories, go to http://www.plants.am/wiki/Plant_Categories and copy/paste the contents of the page here, and then follow the easy instructions!    -->

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:10, 11 July 2009
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	{{Inc\|
		+	Leek (''Allium Porrum''), a flat-leaved, bulbous, hardy biennial, is probably a native of the Mediterranean region, where, particularly in Egypt, it has been used for culinary and medicinal purposes since prehistoric time. All parts of the plant possess an offensive pungent odor and acrid taste due to an essential oil also characteristic of its close relative, the onion. In medicine, the bulb, like the onion, is used as a renal stimulant. The blanched stems and leaves are much employed in continental cookery as a flavoring for soups, stews, and so on, boiled and served like asparagus, and in the raw state.
		+
		+	Except in the larger cities and among our foreign population, the leek is little used in America.
		+
		+	Leek, though of the onion family, is differently treated and used. The object in its cultivation is to develop the leaves in such a manner that they become numerous; the flower-stem does not appear before the second year, hence the necessity of growing it to full size the first year. Sow the seed in March in a seed-bed (with slight bottom heat), in drills 2 or 3 inches apart; when large enough, thin out to stand 1 inch apart in the row, as they may attain the thickness of a fair- sized straw. In May or early June the seedlings are transplanted in the open ground; they are then cut half - way down and should also be set deep, so they will begin blanching when they attain a fair size. The soil best suited is a rich, moist, light loam; prior to the transplanting it should be well prepared with well- rotted stable manure, if possible. The plants are generally set in drills 12 to 15 inches apart, and 6 to 9 inches apart in the drills. Shortening both roots and stems is often advised. As the plants grow, the soil should be drawn loosely around the stems and lower leaves to insure blanching. They should be well cultivated, and when growing freely should be earthed up slightly with the hand-cultivator or hand-hoe. Some of the successful gardeners still cultivate them on the celery-trenching system; by this means they can be watered more thoroughly and will attain a much larger size; also can be conveniently left in the trench with slight protection, and taken therefrom for winter use. Care must be taken not to cover too early, as they decay easily, beginning at the end of the foliage; this destroys the appearance. The hardier kinds used for this purpose will blanch yellow down to the so-called stem, which is white to the root. Leeks planted out in May are ready for use in September; the sowings can be made earlier and later to suit the time of maturing, and can be sown in August and September in coldframes and wintered over with slight protection, then transplanted to the open ground in April. The varieties best known to American gardeners are London Flag, Large Musselburgh or Scotch Flag, Giant Carentan, and Large Rouen.
		+
		+	When blanched leeks are not desired, the plants may be cultivated like onions; indeed, except for earthing up, the cultural methods employed for these two crops are identical. Leeks are marketed in bunches like young onions and, for winter use, are stored like celery. As a second crop to follow early cabbage, spinach, and the like, they are in general favor with market-gardeners. In soups and stews the rank odor disappears, leaving a mild and agreeable flavor.
		+	}}
	{{Plantbox		{{Plantbox
	\| color = IndianRed		\| color = IndianRed

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Otheruses}}
+{{Plantbox
-{{expert-subject|Plants}}
+| color = IndianRed
 | name = Leek
 | image = Leeks.JPG
-| image_width = 250px
+| image_width = 180px
-| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
+| regnum = Plantae
-| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
+| divisio = Magnoliophyta
-| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
+| classis = Liliopsida
-| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
+| ordo = Asparagales
-| familia = [[Alliaceae]]
+| familia = Alliaceae
-| genus = ''[[Allium]]''
+| genus = Allium
-| species = ''[[Allium ampeloprasum|A. ampeloprasum]]''
+| species = A. ampeloprasum
-| subspecies = '''''A. ampeloprasum'' var. ''porrum'''''
+| subspecies = var. ''porrum''
 }}
 The '''leek''' (''Allium ampeloprasum'' var. ''porrum'' (L.)) is a [[vegetable]] belonging, along with the [[onion]] and [[garlic]], to the ''[[Alliaceae]]'' family.  Also in this species are two very different vegetables:  the [[elephant garlic]] (''Allium ampeloprasum'' var. ''ampeloprasum''), grown for its bulbs, and [[kurrat]], which is grown in [[Egypt]] and elsewhere in the [[Middle East]] for its leaves.  The leek is also sometimes classified as ''Allium porrum'' (L.).
@@ Line 27: / Line 23: @@
 ==Growing==
 Leeks are easy to grow from seed and tolerate standing in the field for an extended harvest. Leeks usually reach maturity in the autumn months, and they have few pest or disease problems. Leeks can be bunched and harvested early when they are about the size of a finger or pencil, or they can be thinned and allowed to grow to a much larger mature size. [[Hilling]] leeks can produce better specimens.
 <gallery>
@@ Line 46: / Line 28: @@
 Image:Double Leek Flower Head 2400px.jpg|Two blooming flower heads
 Image:Single Leek Flower Head 2000px.jpg|Closeup of a blooming flower head
 </gallery>

← Older revision	Revision as of 20:13, 8 January 2009
(No difference)