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How to Grow Musselburgh Leeks: A Winter Essential for Your Garden

When winter approaches and the vegetable garden starts to slow down, leeks, especially the hardy Musselburgh variety, come to the rescue. These reliable, robust leeks are a must-have for organic gardeners, providing a fresh harvest when little else is growing. They’re perfect for those chilly months, standing strong from December through April.

Why Choose Musselburgh Leeks?

With their medium-dark green tops and large, tender, white stalks, Musselburgh leeks are as tasty as they are dependable. They boast a mild flavor that works beautifully in soups, stews, or simply roasted with a drizzle of olive oil. Named after a coastal market town in Scotland, this variety has a rich history, tracing its roots back to a French variety called Gros-Court—known for its massive size and dependable performance.

Musselburgh is one of the hardiest leeks you can grow, making it ideal for winter picking, just when you need fresh veggies the most.

Preparing the Soil

Leeks are a long-term crop, so preparing the soil is crucial for a bountiful harvest. If you can, prepare your soil in late winter or early spring:

Weed thoroughly and work in plenty of well-rotted manure or compost.
Leeks can handle heavier soils, but you can improve drainage by adding a bit of horticultural sand.
A week before sowing, apply a balanced fertilizer at about 60g per square meter to give the soil a nutrient boost.

Sowing Musselburgh Leeks

Leeks are perfect for a sunny, well-drained spot in your garden or even an ornamental potager (kitchen garden with flowers). Musselburgh can be sown either indoors or directly in the garden.

Indoor Sowing

Start sowing Musselburgh indoors from January to February for an early crop. Keep the seeds at about 18 to 21°C (65-70°F) until germination.
Once the seedlings are about 15 cm tall, trim them back by 4 cm to encourage strong growth.
Harden off the seedlings in late April or early May by slowly introducing them to outdoor conditions.

Direct Sowing

Sow directly in a prepared seedbed in March or April for harvesting in the winter months.
Sow thinly in rows 1 cm deep and 35-40 cm apart..

Transplanting Your Leeks

When your seedlings reach about the size of a pencil, they are ready for the garden. Here’s a quick tip for creating the perfect planting holes: use a dibber or rake handle to make holes about 15 cm deep. Drop the seedlings into the holes, leaving just the tips of their leaves showing.

Rather than filling in the holes with soil, simply water them in—the water will wash enough soil over the roots to settle them. Over time, the holes will naturally fill up as the leeks grow.

Cultivating Musselburgh Leeks

Water regularly, especially in dry weather, to ensure they stay healthy.
Once the holes have filled up, earth up the stems by pushing soil against the base to encourage the formation of those long, white stalks. Do this gradually over three weeks to avoid rot.
Add mulch to help retain moisture during hot spells and suppress weeds.

Harvesting and Storing Musselburgh Leeks

Leeks are slow-growing but worth the wait. You can start harvesting them from December through April, lifting them with a garden fork. Leeks store well in the refrigerator for up to a month, though they taste best when freshly harvested.

For added freshness, you can even leave them in the ground during winter, as Musselburgh is extremely frost-tolerant.

A Bit of History

The leek has been a part of European cuisine for centuries, and it’s particularly special to Wales, where it has been a symbol of national pride since 640 AD. Legend has it that Welsh soldiers wore leeks in their helmets to distinguish themselves from Saxon enemies in battle. The leek is even celebrated every year on St. David’s Day (March 1st) in Wales.

Why Grow Leeks Organically?

By choosing organic methods and local seeds or Plug plant like our Musselburgh Leeks which I brought from Errit Nursery, you ensure that your crops are not only healthier but better for the environment. Organic leeks grow in rich, chemical-free soil, producing tastier and more nutritious vegetables

Try our Tasty Leek and Potato Soup Recipe when you harvest your Leeks in Winter - perfect for a Chilly day - get your Free Recipe card