Planting Musselburgh Leeks

Ideally, I would have started planting the leeks out in March/April and popped in half a row all the way through to July. However, not having a greenhouse or cold frame, I decided that the easiest way was just to go for a larger single sowing. I sowed indoors during March in the old Stable block. There is no heating, so most things germinated reasonably slowly and planted out at the start of June.

You’ll see in the picture, that the strip of earth although freshly weeded is not freshly dug. It is walked on so reasonably compact, but still easy enough to use a dibber on (you can probably see it in the picture). I usually don’t bother trimming the roots or tops, just water the seed tray really well and knock off the compost so they drop in the hole. I try to get at least three to six inches or three quarters of the plant underground. I also don’t bother filling the hole just water well and the hole will collapse naturally on the plant and won’t damage it. Finally, some wire over the top to stop the birds pulling them out.

On the packet it mentioned that they didn’t need mounding as the stems are self blanching. I will still draw up the earth around them, when I am weeding, old habits die hard. I have seen people place a cardboard tube from a kitchen or toilet roll around them.

I always plant more leeks than necessary and let some run to seed. As they are alliums, next year they will sprout a rather nice flower.