{"product_id":"leek-sentinel-f1","title":"Leek Sentinel F1","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeek Sentinel F1 is a highly uniform hybrid leek, popular with commercial growers for the consistency it brings to every planting. Each plant produces a long white shank topped with an upright blue-green fan, giving you the classic leek shape home cooks and market gardeners both look for.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat uniformity is the real strength of a hybrid like Sentinel F1. Rather than the variable results you sometimes get from open-pollinated leeks, you can expect plants to mature together at a similar size and shape, which makes both garden planning and harvesting far more predictable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe length of that white shank is not left entirely to chance, either. Best results come from placing seedlings into deep holes at transplanting time, or mounding soil up around the stem as the plant grows, both of which exclude light from the lower stem and encourage it to stay pale, tender and long, exactly what you want to see on the chopping board.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs a hardy annual, Sentinel F1 is well suited to New Zealand's cooler months, with a long sowing window from September through to March that lets you plant for a harvest across autumn and winter, when there is little else fresh coming out of the vegetable garden.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSowing Leek Sentinel F1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSow from September to March, either direct or raised in trays for transplanting later, which is the more common approach for achieving a good white shank. Soil temperature should sit between 10-25°C for germination, which typically takes 10-14 days. When transplanting, set seedlings into deep holes rather than shallow ones, spacing plants 20cm apart within the row and 20cm between rows.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaring for Leek Sentinel F1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs plants grow, mound soil progressively up around the base of the stem to extend the length of the white shank, taking care not to let soil fall into the fan of leaves. Keep beds weeded and well watered, since leeks are shallow rooted and can suffer if the soil dries out for extended periods.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHarvesting Leek Sentinel F1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeeks are ready 90-120 days from transplanting. Because Sentinel F1 is so uniform, most of a planting will reach a harvestable size around the same time, though leeks can also be left in the ground and lifted as needed over the cooler months without spoiling.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kings Seeds NZ","offers":[{"title":"30 seeds","offer_id":49212431335732,"sku":"V8456.pkt","price":6.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250 seeds","offer_id":49212431401268,"sku":"V8456.250sdsW","price":24.9,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500 seeds","offer_id":49212431434036,"sku":"V8456.500sdsW","price":44.9,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000 seeds","offer_id":49212431466804,"sku":"V8456.1000sdsW","price":76.3,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2500 seeds","offer_id":49212431368500,"sku":"V8456.2500sdsW","price":152.55,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0729\/0555\/6276\/files\/V8456-W.png?v=1784972574","url":"https:\/\/www.kingsseeds.co.nz\/products\/leek-sentinel-f1","provider":"Kings Seeds NZ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}