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DELIVERY INFO: If you order spring plants today we expect to ship from mid-May onwards. - See FAQs for more info.
Leeks – Musselburgh
(20 Plug Plants)
Estimated delivery from mid-May
£6.99
A tried and tested traditional variety
Musselburgh produces huge, handsome leeks with thick stems and dark green leaves. It is reliable, easy to grow, winter hardy, with good disease resistance and an excellent strong flavour. It will be ready for harvesting late summer to early winter. It’s easy to grow leeks from plug plants – just follow the instructional leaflet that will arrive with your plug plants.
Number of plants: 20 plug plants
Variety: Musselburgh (organic)
In the kitchen: Leeks are delicious in soups, stews and pies. You can steam, fry or boil. Finely chopping leeks brings out the flavour and texture.
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[blogtitle] => Leek plants...some handy growing tips
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[post_date] => 2023-10-05 16:56:50
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[post_content] => I don't think my leeks know if they are coming or going this autumn. One minute it has turned cold, wet and windy, then next it seems that summer is back, and then it's up and down like a yo-yo for a few weeks before settling into quite a mild and dry spell. To a leek, I imagine this can be very muddling. Should they put out flowers? Or fatten up for winter? Or just give up the ghost? Mine are all being somewhat indecisive, so I am keeping an eye on them. I've harvested several that were threatening to flower - you can tell because the middle of the plant starts to push up like a central stem. At this stage, it begins to toughen and before long a bud will form at the top and the central stem will become difficult to cut through with a knife - you'd have to peel off the outer leaf layers to cook them separately.
My moral of this story is to check any leeks that you planted in spring and were hoping to harvest over winter as they may also be muddled and verging on flowering.
Others are still doing okay, and as long as they don't suddenly bolt, they should then stand in the cold ground once temperatures start to drop properly. My word of advice for these, is to mulch them if you can to keep the soil temperature a little more consistent. It'll also help by keeping the ground from freezing in mid winter, which can make it difficult to dig them up.
[post_title] => Check your leeks - Diary of a Rocket Gardener
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[post_content] => If you planted early in the season, you may see some leeks starting to produce buds now after the heatwave we had the other week. If so, you might want to harvest a few of the others before they go the same way.
As a general rule, leeks can be left in the ground over autumn and winter until you're ready to eat them. However, if they are threatening to flower, think again....once a leek bolts, the inner flesh becomes very tough and virtually inedible. We have found before that we couldn't even slice a bolted leek with a sharp knife, as the woody bit in the centre really was too hard.
If you have been unlucky and your leeks have bolted, (you'll see a bud starting to form as pictured) harvest them as soon as possible, along with any other more mature leeks in your plot. When it comes to using them in the kitchen, we'd recommend slicing them down the middle lengthways and removing the middle woody bit (you can happily throw it on your compost pile). Then you can just use the outer bits which will be much more tender and perfectly fine, especially if you're cooking them up for soup.
You could also decide to leave them to flower and seed... if they are in a small raised bed, or dedicated patch, you may find you have a very good crop of leeks to enjoy next year!
[post_title] => Harvest leeks before they bolt
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[post_content] => It's not just parsnips that taste better after a frosty night or two, there are others that develop sweetness from their starch in cold weather. So, if you're despairing of the wintry weather and wishing it were spring, then this list of frost-loving veggies that are getting more and more tasty might cheer you up:
I don’t think my leeks know if they are coming or going this autumn. One minute it has turned cold, wet and windy, then next it seems that summer is...
If you planted early in the season, you may see some leeks starting to produce buds now after the heatwave we had the other week. If so, you might want...
It’s not just parsnips that taste better after a frosty night or two, there are others that develop sweetness from their starch in cold weather. So, if you’re despairing of...
Thanks for yet another excellent newsletter – always a welcome visitor to an often tiresome inbox!
J. D.
“”
Just a quick message to say your packaging is excellent, plants arrived unscathed unlike a recent order from T&M which though shrouded in plastic, plants were DOA. The leeks are looking a bit down but hopefully will perk up!
S.M
“”
Thank you for my sweetcorn delivery, which arrived a couple of days ago. Looks great, it’s for the grandchildren to see how it all works.
I just wanted to let you know how lovely the enclosed postcards and how fabulous your plant catalogue is. I’m 65 years old, an RHS member and a keen gardener of old. I have never come across such a beautiful, thoughtful way to receive a plant delivery. So very impressed and will certainly stay in touch and promote your services with pleasure.
