Bandit

Family: Amaryllidaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sweet, mellow, and deeply savory—Bandit leeks develop a tender, creamy bite with a clean, garden-fresh aroma.

At maturity (about 120 days), the shafts form sturdy, well-filled stalks with a smooth, fine texture that stays pleasantly crisp from base to pale green. Grow Bandit for elegant, reliable performance in beds and containers, and enjoy its versatility in fresh preparations, savory sautés, and comforting soups and stews.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 120 DaysHabit: Upright

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Bandit Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 3a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 3b	Mar 10th	May 12th	Sep 9th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 6th	May 8th	Sep 5th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 4th	May 6th	Sep 3rd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Feb 27th	May 1st	Aug 29th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Feb 23rd	Apr 27th	Aug 25th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Feb 20th	Apr 24th	Aug 22nd – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 14th	Apr 18th	Aug 16th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 9th	Apr 13th	Aug 11th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Jan 30th	Apr 3rd	Aug 1st – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Jan 21st	Mar 25th	Jul 23rd – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 12th	Mar 16th	Jul 14th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Dec 26th	Feb 27th	Jun 27th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 1st	Feb 2nd	Jun 2nd – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 29th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	120
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Bandit leeks are built for cooking down into something luxuriously smooth without turning onion-pungent—sweat them until creamy and they practically melt into soups, purées, and gratins. Their clean crispness also makes them feel expensive when used shaved raw or briefly sautéed, especially with butter, thyme, and gruyère.

Best Uses

low-sweat then butter-baste for silky sautéed leeks
potage and purées where it stays smooth from white through green
braises and gratins that need structure without bitterness
shaved raw or lightly dressed for a crisp, garden-fresh crunch

Flavor Profile

sweet, mellow allium aroma deep savory (not sharp) finish tender, creamy bite with a clean crisp snap

Kitchen Pairings

butter thyme black pepper gruyère chicken stock smoked salmon

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Bandit plants developing leaf spots or damping-off, and how can I stop it?

Bandit (a 120-day crop started warm) is prone to fungal leaf spots and early damping-off when soil stays wet and foliage doesn’t dry quickly. Water at the base, avoid wetting leaves, and remove the worst affected leaves; if damping-off appears in seedlings, thin to healthy plants and let the soil surface dry slightly between waterings. If spots spread, use a labeled garden fungicide and improve airflow with proper spacing in full sun.

How often should I water Bandit during the main growing phase (after it’s established)?

During active growth, keep the top 1–2 in of soil consistently moist but not soggy—typically about 1 inch of water per week, adjusted for heat and container size. Water deeply in the morning and wait until the surface just begins to dry before watering again to prevent root problems and fungal disease.

How do I tell when my Bandit is ready to harvest after 120 days?

Harvest when the fruit/produce reaches the variety’s mature size and has firm, fully colored skin (no green cast) and gives slightly under gentle pressure. In a 120-day crop, start checking around day 115, then harvest over a few days as items reach full color and firmness to avoid over-maturity and cracking.