Hybrid

Biker

Allium porrum

Wikimedia Commons

Harvest

90d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

4–9

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Biker in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 allium →

Zone Map

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Biker · Zones 4–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing4-6 inches

SoilWell-drained loam, fertile soil preferred

WaterRegular, consistent moisture during growing season

FlavorMild to peppery allium flavor with tender, crisp shanks characteristic of green onions.

ColorGreen shanks with white base

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	—	—	May – June	August – October
Zone 4	—	—	April – June	July – October
Zone 5	—	—	April – May	July – November
Zone 6	—	—	April – May	July – November
Zone 7	—	—	March – May	June – November
Zone 8	—	—	March – April	June – December
Zone 9	—	—	February – March	May – December
Zone 10	—	—	January – March	April – December
Zone 1	—	—	June – July	September – September
Zone 2	—	—	May – July	August – September
Zone 11	—	—	January – February	March – December
Zone 12	—	—	January – February	March – December
Zone 13	—	—	January – February	March – December

Succession Planting

Direct sow Biker leeks every 3–4 weeks from March through early May in zone 7. At 90 days to harvest, each sowing needs a full run before fall shuts things down — a May 1 sowing gets you to harvest by late August, which works fine. Don't push past mid-May or you'll be racing the first hard freeze in November with shanks that haven't sized up.

Leeks don't bolt in summer heat the way lettuce does, so the cutoff isn't temperature — it's the frost calendar. In zones 4–6, move your last sowing no later than early April to guarantee 90 days before your first fall frost date.

Complete Growing Guide

Shanks bulk up quickly by mid-early season and resist bulbing for easy stripping. Performs well across the US and maintains high quality, even at a large size. An easy replacement for Jumper, which was discontinued by our supplier. Primed seed. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Biker is 90 days to maturity, hybrid (f1). Disease resistance includes Purple Blotch, Common Rust, White Tip.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Drainage: Good Drainage. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Division. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Biker reaches harvest at 90 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds.

The capsule splits longitudinally and contains small round black seeds.

Type: Capsule.

Storage & Preservation

Harvest Biker leeks at 90 days and store unwashed in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator's lower drawer, where they'll keep for 2–3 weeks at 32–40°F with 90–95% humidity. For longer storage, trim roots and tops, wrap individually in damp paper towels, and they'll last 4–6 weeks. Freezing works well: blanch 2-minute segments for 3 minutes, cool in ice water, then pack into freezer bags for up to 8 months. Biker's mild, slightly sweet flavor holds up excellently when frozen for soups and stews. You can also dry thin slices in a low oven (200°F) until papery, then store in airtight containers for winter seasoning. For fermentation, slice and salt at 2–3%, pressing under brine for a tangy condiment ready in 1–2 weeks. Avoid washing until just before use, as moisture accelerates decay.

History & Origin

Biker is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Northern Hemisphere, North America and Eurasia

Advantages

+Shanks bulk up quickly, reaching harvestable size by mid-early season
+Resists bulbing tendency, making stripping and processing much easier
+Performs reliably across diverse US growing regions and climates
+Maintains excellent quality even when allowed to grow large
+Direct replacement for discontinued Jumper variety with proven performance

Considerations

-Primed seed requires careful storage and handling to maintain viability
-May struggle in poorly draining soils prone to waterlogging issues
-Large mature size demands consistent nitrogen fertility throughout season

Companion Plants

Carrots and leeks are a genuinely useful pairing — leeks deter carrot fly (Psila rosae) and carrots reportedly return the favor against onion fly (Delia antiqua), though the effect is stronger when the two are interplanted in alternating rows rather than separate blocks. Brassicas and lettuce work well nearby because they share similar water needs and don't compete hard for root space alongside leeks set at 4–6 inches. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) at the bed edges pull in generalist predators and may confuse thrips — which matters more on alliums than on most crops, given how reliably Thrips tabaci finds them by mid-season.

Beans and peas are the ones to keep separated. Alliums produce sulfur compounds that suppress the nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria legumes depend on — plant them within a few feet of each other and your bean yields take a measurable hit. Asparagus competes at the root level and both crops sit in the ground long enough that crowding becomes a real problem, not a theoretical one.

Plant Together

Tomatoes

Alliums repel aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites that commonly attack tomatoes

Carrots

Alliums deter carrot rust fly while carrots help break up soil for allium bulbs

Brassicas

Alliums repel cabbage worms, flea beetles, and aphids that damage cabbage family plants

Lettuce

Alliums provide natural pest control against aphids and slugs without competing for nutrients

Roses

Alliums repel aphids, thrips, and may help reduce black spot and other fungal diseases

Peppers

Alliums deter aphids, spider mites, and may help repel pepper maggots

Strawberries

Alliums repel slugs, aphids, and nematodes that commonly damage strawberry plants

Marigolds

Both plants repel similar pests and marigolds may enhance allium's pest-deterrent properties

Keep Apart

Beans

Alliums can inhibit nitrogen fixation by rhizobia bacteria in legume root nodules

Peas

Sulfur compounds from alliums may interfere with pea growth and nitrogen fixation

Asparagus

Alliums can stunt asparagus growth through allelopathic chemical interactions

Nutrition Facts

Calories

40kcal(2%)

Protein

1.1g(2%)

Fiber

1.7g(6%)

Carbs

9.34g(3%)

Fat

0.1g(0%)

Vitamin C

7.4mg(8%)

Vitamin A

0mcg(0%)

Vitamin K

0.4mcg(0%)

Iron

0.21mg(1%)

Calcium

23mg(2%)

Potassium

146mg(3%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170000)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Common Rust (Intermediate); Purple Blotch (Intermediate); White Tip (Intermediate)

Common Pests

Onion flies, thrips, armyworms

Diseases

Fusarium basal rot, white rot, botrytis

Troubleshooting Biker

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Leaf tips browning and silvery streaking on the outer leaves, appearing from mid-season onward

Likely Causes

Thrips (Thrips tabaci) — tiny, hard to see without squinting, they rasp the leaf surface and leave behind that papery silver damage
Dry conditions that stress the plant and make it more attractive to thrips

What to Do

1.Spray with insecticidal soap or spinosad in the early morning, getting inside the leaf folds where thrips hide
2.Keep soil consistently moist — water stress makes leeks pull thrips in faster than healthy plants do
3.Remove and trash heavily damaged outer leaves to cut down the population sheltering on the plant

Plants wilting and yellowing at the base, with the lower stem turning brown and soft around day 60–75

Likely Causes

Fusarium basal rot (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. porri) — soil-borne, spreads through infected transplants or contaminated beds
White rot (Sclerotium cepivorum) — similar presentation but look for fluffy white mycelium and tiny black sclerotia at the base

What to Do

1.Pull affected plants immediately and bag them for the trash — do not compost
2.Rotate out of alliums for at least 3–4 years in that bed; white rot sclerotia can persist in soil for 20+ years
3.Next planting, start with certified disease-free seed or transplants and switch to drip irrigation to keep foliage dry

Ragged, chewed holes through the flag leaves, with frass (dark green pellets) visible in the leaf folds

Likely Causes

Armyworms (Spodoptera spp.) — larvae feed at night, so you may not catch them in the act
Onion flies (Delia antiqua) — larvae tunnel toward the base, but early feeding looks like surface chewing

What to Do

1.Check the leaf folds after dark with a headlamp; hand-pick armyworm caterpillars and drop them in soapy water
2.Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) to target armyworm larvae while they're still small — it loses effectiveness once they're past the second instar
3.Cover transplants with row cover immediately after planting to block onion fly egg-laying at the soil line

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Biker Allium take to harvest?▼

Biker Allium reaches maturity in approximately 90 days from planting. The variety is known for quick shank bulk-up by mid-early season, making it an efficient choice for growers looking for fast turnover. This timeline assumes proper growing conditions including adequate sunlight and nutrition.

Is Biker a good allium variety for beginners?▼

Yes, Biker is rated as Easy difficulty and is well-suited for beginner growers. It's a reliable hybrid that performs consistently across various US regions and maintains high quality even at larger sizes. It was introduced as an easy replacement for the discontinued Jumper variety, making it dependable for new gardeners.

How much space do Biker Allium plants need?▼

While specific spacing recommendations vary by growing method, alliums like Biker typically require 4-6 inches between individual plants in rows for optimal shank development. Adequate spacing ensures good air circulation and allows each plant room to bulk up properly without competition.

Can Biker Allium resist bulbing during harvest season?▼

Yes, one of Biker's key strengths is its resistance to bulbing, which makes it ideal for easy stripping and harvesting. This trait allows growers to harvest at desired shank sizes without the variety prematurely forming bulbs, providing more flexibility in harvest timing and extending the harvest window.

What light conditions does Biker Allium prefer?▼

Biker Allium thrives in full sun to partial shade, requiring a minimum of 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily. While it performs well in full sun conditions, the variety's tolerance for partial shade makes it flexible for various garden layouts and locations with less intense light exposure.

What does Biker Allium taste like and how is it used?▼

As an allium green variety, Biker offers the characteristic mild to peppery allium flavor typical of scallions or green onions. It's commonly used fresh in salads, as a garnish, in stir-fries, and in various cuisines where green onion flavor and tender shanks are desired.