Leningrad is one I tried for a year or two during our spate of really cold summers. It did not size up for me and I dropped it. Sounds like you got some really good seed there - it's all about the source. The bulb I started with was not large to begin with. L. is a porcelain and they should all be fine with cool weather, but my locally sourced Music did much better.
Spanish Roja likes it a bit warmer, but what a treat. The smell when you dig it is heavenly. Yum.