Lexton

Family: Amaryllidaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sweet and quietly bold, Lexton leeks develop a tender, mellow flavor with a clean, green-sweet aroma and a lush, buttery bite.

At maturity, the shanks are impressively full and upright, with crisp, fine-textured inner layers that hold their character beautifully for fresh use and elegant roasting. Grow Lexton for a garden-to-table staple that turns cool-season harvests into a steady, satisfying rhythm—ideal for soups, gratins, and savory sauces, as well as pickling for a bright, allium-forward accent.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Upright

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Lexton 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	Mar 16th	May 18th	Aug 16th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 6th	May 8th	Aug 6th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 6th	May 8th	Aug 6th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 10th	May 12th	Aug 10th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 6th	May 8th	Aug 6th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 4th	May 6th	Aug 4th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Feb 27th	May 1st	Jul 30th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Feb 23rd	Apr 27th	Jul 26th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Feb 20th	Apr 24th	Jul 23rd – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 14th	Apr 18th	Jul 17th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 9th	Apr 13th	Jul 12th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Jan 30th	Apr 3rd	Jul 2nd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Jan 21st	Mar 25th	Jun 23rd – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 12th	Mar 16th	Jun 14th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Dec 26th	Feb 27th	May 28th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 1st	Feb 2nd	May 3rd – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Lexton’s full, upright shanks and fine inner texture mean it cooks up silky without turning to mush—great for dishes where you want distinct layers, not collapse. The mellow green sweetness lets it play well with dairy and smoked fish, and it holds up beautifully to roasting and gentle pickling.

Best Uses

buttery leek-and-cream gratin where the layers stay intact
slow-simmered leek soup or stock for a clean, sweet finish
pan-roasting (or oven-roasting) until edges bronze while centers stay tender
pickling for a bright, allium-forward crunch

Flavor Profile

green-sweet allium flavor mellow tenderness with crisp, fine inner layers quietly bold aroma buttery, lightly rich bite

Kitchen Pairings

butter heavy cream thyme black pepper parmesan smoked salmon

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Allium porrum (leek), and how do I treat it at home?

Leeks commonly suffer from leek rust (orange-brown pustules) and onion thrips; both can reduce leaf growth and leave plants looking streaky or dull. Remove and discard infected leaves early, keep airflow high by not crowding plants, and avoid overhead watering so foliage dries quickly. For thrips, use reflective mulch and consider treating young plants with insecticidal soap, reapplying according to label directions as new growth emerges.

How often should I water Allium porrum during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I aim for?

During active growth, keep soil consistently evenly moist—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, adjusting for heat and rainfall. Water deeply so moisture reaches the planting depth, but don’t let the soil stay waterlogged, since leeks in saturated soil are more likely to develop rot. A simple test: the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) should feel slightly damp but not muddy before you water again.

How can I tell when Allium porrum is ready to harvest?

Harvest leeks when they reach full size around 90 days from sowing/transplanting, typically when the white shank is well-developed and firm. Look for a thick, straight stem base (the blanched portion) and healthy, green leaves; if the plant starts to feel hollow or flops easily, it’s usually past its best size. Cut at the soil line with a sharp knife and harvest before significant freezing temperatures.