Carentan Leek, Heirloom Seeds

Carentan — The Northern European Heirloom Leek With 8.5" Tender White Stems, Cherished Since the 1880s

Carentan is a classic heirloom leek with deep northern European roots — a cherished staple that made its way to the United States in the 1800s and became commercially available in the 1880s. Tender white stems grow 8.5 inches long and 2 inches wide, with medium-dark green leaves and a mild, oniony zest that makes Carentan an excellent addition to soups, stews, gratins, and any dish that benefits from a refined allium flavor. Nutritionally impressive, Carentan leeks are a great source of vitamins A, C, and K, plus iron, manganese, and fiber — a genuinely nourishing kitchen staple with over a century of American garden history.

Why Grow Carentan?

• Heirloom since the 1880s — over 140 years of American garden history
• 8.5" tender white stems, 2" wide — impressive size and excellent eating quality
• Mild, refined oniony flavor — perfect for soups, stews & gratins
• Nutritional powerhouse — vitamins A, C & K, iron, manganese & fiber
• Northern European heritage — a cherished staple across the continent
• Open-pollinated heirloom — save seed year after year

Growing Notes

Start indoors 10–12 weeks before last frost. Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in fertile, well-draining soil. Transplant outdoors after frost danger has passed, spacing plants 6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart in full sun. Leeks benefit from hilling — mound soil up around the stems as they grow to blanch and lengthen the white portion. Keep soil consistently moist and fertile. Harvest when stems reach desired size — leeks are frost tolerant and can be left in the ground into late fall.

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden’s success.