Allium porrum 'Musselburgh'

Leek

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Key info

Skill level

Experienced

Plant details

This important winter vegetable is grown for its long, thick, white stems or 'shanks'. Early varieties mature from August to early winter, when the hardier dark-leafed maincrops take over until April or May. Plants may be sown direct and thinned, but most gardeners prefer to raise seedlings under glass or in a nursery bed, and then transplant them by dropping each one in a 10cm to 15cm (4in to 6in) deep dibber hole to increase the length of blanch. Mini-leeks are popular, sown direct and thinned to 2.5cm (1in) apart for use when the size of spring onions.

Family: Alliaceae

Genus: Allium

Species: porrum

Cultivar: Musselburgh

Sun exposure: Full sun

Soil: Well-drained/light, Boggy

Skill level: Experienced

Height: 60cm

Spread: 20cm