Leek Musselburgh Seeds

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A well known popular amateur variety, Leek Musselburgh is a very high yielding variety with long shanks and good cold tolerance. Plants are erect with medium green foliage. Some rust resistance.

Harvesting time will depend on sowing time. The leeks will store well once picked if heeled in.

Average Packet Contents: 400 Seeds

How to Grow Leeks from Seed

Seed Sowing

Seeds can be sown into prepared seed beds or sown directly into their growing beds. They can also be started off early under glass, which helps to prolong the growing season. For early and larger plants, sow seeds from January to March into pots or deep trays containing a quality seed compost. The temperature should be maintained at around 18C until seeds have germinated. Keep the young seedlings watered and ensure they are placed in a light and airy position in the greenhouse. Plant out during April or May after hardening the plants off in a cold frame or similar.

Outdoors, seeds can be sown into prepared seed beds at a depth of 1cm and then thinned out and transplanted to their permanent beds during April or May. Use a dibber or broom handle to make planting holes 15cm deep and 20cm apart, with 30cm between the rows. Place the plants into the holes and water them. Do not fill the holes with soil as this will allow the plants to swell quickly and the soil will fall in gradually. Alternatively, and providing space is not an issue, you can sow the seeds directly into prepared growing beds.  

Planting Out

Plants that have been started off in under glass will be ready to plant out into their prepared beds during March or April after hardening off. Seedlings that have been grown outdoors in seed beds will be ready for transplanting when the stems are about as thick as a pencil. Most young leek plants will tolerate moderate frost. Ensure the seedlings are planted at least 15cm deep so that a large proportion of the stem is below ground level. Space the plants at 20cm apart and 30cm between the rows. If you are growing a large number of leeks then dig trenches 15cm deep, place seedlings 20cm apart in an upright position and gently backfill with loose soil. Water the seedlings well after planting.

General Aftercare

Leeks require a long growing season so regular hoeing and watering are the main activities, which need to be routinely carried out. They will also need feeding with a general granular fertiliser or liquid feed throughout the growing season. Leaves that get too long may begin arching over and touch the ground where they could begin to rot. To avoid this, trim them back a little if necessary. If you prefer your leek stems to be blanched (white) then you can begin drawing soil up the stems from about 3 weeks before harvesting but take care not to let soil fall into the leaf folds. Alternatively, you can roll cardboard around the stems to exclude any light.

For full growing instructions see our blog post: How to Grow Leeks