The leek is a biennial crop which is grown as an annual. It belongs to the same family of onions and garlic. It possesses a stalk than a bulb. Leek looks like green onions in appearance. The leaves, white onion base and green stalk are edible portions of the leek. The cylindrical white bulb is formed by encircling the bases of the leaves. The white base of the stem could also be called as shank.
| Name | Leeks |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Allium ampeloprasum |
| Native | Middle Asia but cultivated in various parts of the world such as Western Asia and Mediterranean countries. |
| Common/English Name | Broadleaf Wild Leek, English Leek, Elephant Garlic, Great-Headed Garlic, Great round-headed Leek, European Leek, Kurrat Leek, Kurrat, Pearl Onion, Levant Garlic, Wild Leek |
| Name in Other Languages | Afrikaans: Prei Albanian: Presh Arabic: Kurrat Austrian: Lauch Basque: Porru Belarusian: Tsabulevaja Belgian: Porei Bosnian: Prasa Brazil: Alho-Poró Bulgaria: Praz Catalan: Porro Chinese: Jiu Cong Czech: Pór Zahradní Setý Danish: Perleløg Porre Dutch: Wild Look Eastonian: Porrulauk Esperanto: Ampeloprazo Farsi: Gandana Finnish: Purjo French: Faux Poireau Gaelic: Cainneann Galician: Porreta Georgian: Prassa German: Wilder Lauch Greek: Praso Hebrew: Kereshah Hungarian: Francia Hagyma Icelandic: Blađylaukur India:- Hindi: Gandha Manipuri: Maroy Napakpi Marathi: Khorat Tamil: Iraakuuccittam Urdu: Bara Sir Wala Lasan Indonesia: Bawang Prei Italian: Porrandello Japanese: Nira Negi Kashmiri: Godu Kazakh: Luk Porej Kenya: Gĭtũngũrũ Khmer: Khtum-Khchal Kirghiz: Porej Pijazi Kiribati: Rike Laotian: Pèènz Fàlangx Latvian: Puravi, Sīpoli Macedonian: Golemoglavest Luk Maltese: Kurrat Slavagg Malaysia: Bawang Sayuran Maori: Riiki Mongolian: Songino Norwegian: Purre Persian: Tareh Polish: Czosnek Por Portuguese: Alho Bravo Philippines: Bisaya: Sibuyas-Bisaya Tagalog: Kutsai Pampangan: Kuse Pangasinan: Kusay Russian: Luk Porei Serbian: Luk Slovašcina: Poletni Luk Sorbian: Porej Spanish: Ajo Elefante Swahili: Vitunguu Liki Swedish: Purjo Swiss: Poireau Taiwan: Yang Cong Tajik: Siri Tez Thailand: Krathiam Tai Tibetan: Ñūqtsoon Turkish: Yabani Pırasa Turkmen: Ýapyşak Şogan Ukrainian: Cibulja-Porej Welsh: Cenhinen Wyllt Wolof: Poro Vietnamese: Poa-Rô Hành Xhosa: Iliki Yiddish: Pureh-Tsibehleh |
| Plant Growth Habit | Biennial, herbaceous, bulbous, robust, odorous, erect |
| Growing Climate | Cool climates |
| Soil | Fertile and well drained |
| Plant Size | 60–100 cm (2-3 feet) high |
| Lifespan | One year (biennial which is grown as an annual) |
| Root | Fibrous, shallow |
| Stem | Swollen, white, thick, Height: 0.5-0.75 m, Diameter: 2 inches |
| Leaf | Alternate, cylindrical, flat; blue-green or yellow-green; Length: 3 ft. (0.9 m) |
| Flower | Ovate-oblong, white, pink or purple, Length: 4–6 mm |
| Bulb shape & size | Solitary, cylindrical ovoid- subglobose; Diameter: 2-3 mm, Length: 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) |
| Flavor/aroma | Intense |
| Fruit Taste | Less pungent |
| Seed | Six small seeds, black, 2–3 mm × 2 mm |
| Varieties/Types |
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| Health Benefits |
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| Major Nutritions (Raw) | Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 41.8 µg (34.83%) Iron, Fe 1.87 mg (23.38%) Manganese, Mn 0.428 mg (18.61%) Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 0.207 mg (15.92%) Vitamin B9 (Folate) 57 µg (14.25%) Copper, Cu 0.107 mg (11.89%) Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 10.7 mg (11.89%) Vitamin A, RAE 74 µg (10.57%) Carbohydrate 12.59 g (9.68%) Magnesium, Mg 25 mg (5.95%) |
| Calories in 1cup (89 gm) Raw | 54 Kcal. |
| Precautions |
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| Other Facts |
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