Hybrid

Comanche

Allium porrum

Wikimedia Commons

Beautiful shanks can achieve impressive length. Comanche is a midseason leek with medium blue-green foliage. Its upright plant habit makes for easier cultivation. Also available in organic seed.

Harvest

105d

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 Comanche in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 allium →

Zone Map

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Comanche · Zones 4–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing4-6 inches between plants, 18-24 inches between rows

SoilWell-drained loam, rich in organic matter, slightly acidic to neutral

WaterRegular, consistent moisture

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorMild, sweet flavor with delicate, slightly grassy undertones and tender texture

ColorWhite and light blue-green

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

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

Succession Planting

Direct sow Comanche from March through May in zone 7, aiming for soil temperatures above 50°F at planting depth. With 105 days to harvest, a mid-May sowing still puts you in October, well before hard frost. Stagger sowings every 3 weeks across that window if you want harvest spread from July into November rather than everything maturing at once. Leeks don't bolt the way lettuce does, so heat isn't a hard cutoff — but germination gets unreliable once soil temps consistently exceed 80°F, so don't push a late-May direct sow in a hot year without shade cloth or afternoon cover.

Complete Growing Guide

Beautiful shanks can achieve impressive length. Comanche is a midseason leek with medium blue-green foliage. Its upright plant habit makes for easier cultivation. Also available in organic seed. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Comanche is 105 days to maturity, annual, hybrid (f1).

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

Comanche reaches harvest at 105 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

The capsule splits longitudinally and contains small round black seeds.

Type: Capsule.

Storage & Preservation

Harvest Comanche leeks at 105 days and store in the refrigerator's crisper drawer at 32–40°F with high humidity; they'll keep for 2–3 weeks when wrapped loosely in plastic. For longer preservation, blanch whole leeks or chopped whites and light greens for 2–3 minutes, then freeze in airtight containers for up to eight months. Alternatively, slice and dry them in a dehydrator at 135°F until brittle, storing the result in airtight jars. Fermentation works well too—salt-pack sliced leeks at roughly 2% salt by weight for a tangy condiment. Comanche's naturally sweet flavor makes it particularly good for freezing whole; thaw and use directly in soups and stews without precooking, as the texture softens during cooking anyway.

History & Origin

Comanche 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

+Beautiful long shanks provide impressive edible length for harvest
+Midseason maturity at 105 days fits well into most growing seasons
+Medium blue-green foliage indicates healthy vigor and disease resistance
+Upright growth habit reduces cultivation labor and spacing requirements

Considerations

-Medium blue-green color suggests potential susceptibility to rust or fungal issues
-Upright habit may require staking in windy growing locations
-105-day requirement demands consistent soil moisture throughout season

Companion Plants

Carrots and leeks pull real duty together — the sulfur compounds leeks emit disrupt carrot fly (Psila rosae) host-finding, and the relationship runs the other direction too, with carrot scent masking leek moth cues. Plant them in alternating 6-inch rows and you get that interference effect without dedicating a whole bed to either crop. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) add thrips and root maggot suppression through root exudates, and lettuce fills gaps at 6 inches without competing for the deep moisture a leek needs by midsummer. Beans and peas are worth keeping well away — allium root chemistry stunts legume nitrogen fixation, and you lose yield on both sides of that pairing.

Plant Together

Tomatoes

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

Carrots

Alliums deter carrot fly while carrots help break up soil for allium bulb development

Cabbage

Strong allium scent repels cabbage worms, flea beetles, and other brassica pests

Roses

Alliums repel aphids, thrips, and may reduce black spot fungal disease

Lettuce

Alliums provide pest protection without competing for nutrients or space

Peppers

Allium compounds deter aphids and may help repel pepper weevils

Strawberries

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

Marigolds

Both plants repel similar pests and create a strong protective barrier together

Keep Apart

Beans

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

Peas

Sulfur compounds from alliums interfere with beneficial bacteria needed for pea growth

Sage

Both plants compete for similar soil nutrients and may stunt each other's growth

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

Common Pests

Leek moths, onion flies, thrips, root maggots

Diseases

Pink root, white rot, fusarium basal rot, downy mildew

Troubleshooting Comanche

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

Narrow white or silvery streaking on leaves, with tiny black frass specks visible up close

Likely Causes

Thrips (Thrips tabaci) — rasping insects that feed between leaf layers and leave behind excrement
Hot, dry spells that favor thrips population explosions

What to Do

1.Spray with insecticidal soap every 5–7 days, hitting the inner leaf folds where thrips shelter
2.Remove and bag the most heavily damaged outer leaves — don't compost them
3.Keep irrigation consistent; drought-stressed leeks attract heavier thrips pressure

Leaves wilting and yellowing from the base up, with pinkish discoloration on the roots when you pull the plant

Likely Causes

Pink root (Phoma terrestris) — a soil-borne fungus that stains roots pink to red and eventually kills them
Replanting alliums in the same bed year after year, which lets the pathogen build up

What to Do

1.Pull affected plants and dispose of them in the trash, not the compost
2.Rotate leeks and all alliums out of this bed for at least 3–4 years
3.If pink root is a recurring problem, consider a raised bed with fresh soil mix rather than fighting infected ground

Soft, slimy rot at the base of the plant, with white fluffy mycelium or small black sclerotia visible in the soil around the stem

Likely Causes

White rot (Sclerotium cepivorum) — a persistent soil fungus whose sclerotia can survive 20+ years in the ground
Cool, wet soil conditions that favor germination of the sclerotia

What to Do

1.Remove infected plants immediately along with a generous scoop of surrounding soil, and bag everything
2.Don't replant any allium in that spot — white rot doesn't diminish on a normal garden timescale
3.Avoid moving soil from infected beds to clean areas on tools or boots

Plants collapsing at soil level, or spongy, tunneled shanks discovered at harvest

Likely Causes

Onion fly larvae (Delia antiqua) — maggots bore into the base and shank, rotting the leek from the inside out
Root maggots from related Delia species, which follow the same pattern and overwinter as pupae in the soil

What to Do

1.Cover transplants immediately with row cover (Reemay or similar) and seal the edges — this is your best prevention before any damage starts
2.Rotate alliums to a new bed each season to break the soil-dwelling pupal cycle
3.At harvest, check damaged plants for larvae and destroy them; don't leave infested material sitting on the soil surface

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Comanche leeks from seed to harvest?▼

Comanche leeks take approximately 105 days from transplanting to reach harvest maturity. If starting from seed indoors, add 6-8 weeks to this timeline. This makes it a midseason variety, ready for fall or early winter harvesting depending on your planting date.

Is Comanche leek a good variety for beginners?▼

Yes, Comanche is excellent for beginners. It's rated as an easy-to-grow variety with an upright growth habit that simplifies cultivation and harvesting. Its hybrid vigor contributes to reliable performance, making it forgiving for gardeners new to growing leeks.

Can you grow Comanche leeks in containers?▼

While leeks can be grown in containers, Comanche benefits from deeper soil to develop long, impressive shanks. Use containers at least 12 inches deep and wide. Ensure excellent drainage and consistent moisture. Container-grown leeks may achieve slightly shorter shanks than in-ground plantings.

What does Comanche leek taste like?▼

Comanche leeks offer a mild, sweet flavor characteristic of quality leek varieties. They're less pungent than onions with a delicate, slightly grassy undertone. The white and light green portions are tender and versatile for cooking applications from soups to grilled preparations.

When should I plant Comanche leek seeds?▼

Start Comanche seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, then transplant seedlings outdoors after frost danger passes. Alternatively, direct sow after the last frost where temperatures remain moderate. For fall harvest, plan backward 105 days from your first expected frost.

How much space do Comanche leeks need between plants?▼

Space Comanche leek transplants 4-6 inches apart in rows 18-24 inches apart. This spacing accommodates their upright growth habit and allows adequate air circulation. Wider spacing may produce larger individual shanks, while closer spacing optimizes yield per bed area.