Kurrat (Allium ampeloprasum var. kurrat)
2 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Plant
- Early March to early September
- Site
- 6+ hours of sun, soil pH 5.2–8.3
- Biggest risk
- Allium white rot
In the UK, kurrats go in the ground early March to early September.
Kurrats (Allium ampeloprasum var. kurrat) — herbaceous perennial bulb.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from early March in Southern England to early March in Scotland.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Sow |
|---|---|
| Southern England | early March to early September |
| Midlands | early March to early September |
| Northern England | early March to early September |
| Scotland | early March to early September |
Southern England - detail & sources
Neither source gives region-specific UK dates; theferns.info gives one UK-wide sowing window (early spring under glass through mid-spring outdoors, transplants running into late summer) with no frost-chasing urgency described, so one window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the sources do not support.
Midlands - detail & sources
Neither source gives region-specific UK dates; theferns.info gives one UK-wide sowing window (early spring under glass through mid-spring outdoors, transplants running into late summer) with no frost-chasing urgency described, so one window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the sources do not support.
Northern England - detail & sources
Neither source gives region-specific UK dates; theferns.info gives one UK-wide sowing window (early spring under glass through mid-spring outdoors, transplants running into late summer) with no frost-chasing urgency described, so one window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the sources do not support.
Scotland - detail & sources
Neither source gives region-specific UK dates; theferns.info gives one UK-wide sowing window (early spring under glass through mid-spring outdoors, transplants running into late summer) with no frost-chasing urgency described, so one window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the sources do not support.
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 5.2 - 8.3 |
| Sunlight | 6-6 hours direct sun |
| Soil texture | chalk, clay, loam or sandy (RHS); succeeds in clay (theferns.info) |
| Drainage | well-drained |
| Lifecycle | herbaceous perennial bulb |
| Edible parts | leaves, flowers, flowering stems |
At a Glance
Soil & Growing Conditions
Water: moist but well-drained (RHS, species-level); prefers a dry position (theferns.info, Kurrat Group)
Soil pH range
Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.
Growth Stages
| Stage | BBCH | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sowing | 0 | Sow early spring under glass and transplant in May for an early/larger crop, or sow mid-spring outdoors and transplant mid-to-late summer for a smaller, later crop (theferns.info). |
| Establishment and leaf growth | 3 | Grows as a clump of leaves 10-30cm long from a much-reduced bulb; prefers a sunny, dry, well-drained position (theferns.info). |
| Cut-and-come-again harvest | 3 | Leaves trimmed for use regrow rapidly, giving multiple harvests through the season rather than one cut (Veggies Info). |
| Flowering | 6 | Flowering scape 45cm-1.8m tall; summer blooms of small, tightly-packed pale purple flowers in spherical umbels, papery capsules (RHS, species-level); the flowers and young flowering stems are also edible, raw, with a similar flavour to the leaves (theferns.info). |
Harvest & Storage
When to pick: Cut-and-come-again leaf crop: trim leaves once they reach usable length and the plant regrows rapidly, allowing repeated harvests through the growing season rather than a single one-off cut (Veggies Info).
Diseases
Pests
Kurrat, from Leaf Row to Seed
References
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country=UK
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Kurrat Group: herbaceous bulb perennial, ~1.0m, producing 6-9 leaves 10-30cm long sheathed around a flowering scape 45-180cm tall. Prefers a sunny position in light, well-drained soil; succeeds in clay soils; tolerates pH 5.2-8.3; prefers a dry position. Bulbs planted fairly deeply. Usually grown from seed: for early/larger plants sow early spring under glass and transplant in May; for smaller/later plants sow mid-spring outdoors and transplant mid-to-late summer. Edible leaves (raw or cooked, pleasant mild-to-strong garlic flavour, often used in salads) and edible flowers/young flowering stems (similar flavour, best used to flavour cooked foods once mature). Cultivated form, not found wild; originated in Egypt, primarily cultivated in Egypt and the Middle East. No specific poisoning reports for this variety, but the genus as a whole can be toxic to some mammals (especially dogs) in large quantities.
2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I sow kurrats in the UK?
In Southern England, from early March. In Scotland, wait until early March. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow kurrats?
Sow early March to early September.
What soil pH do kurrats need?
A pH of about 5.2–8.3. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect kurrats?
Our data links 1 disease and 1 pest to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
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Last verified 2026-08-28
Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.