PlantSowGrow
How to grow Leek (Musselburgh)
Allium porrum
A very hardy, thick-stemmed leek that stands in the ground all winter for fresh harvests from autumn to spring.
At a glance: Sow mid February to early April, harvest from mid September.
When to sow, plant and harvest
Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.
Growing Leek (Musselburgh): what it needs
- Light
- Full sun · 6+ hours a day
- Watering
- Water regularly in dry weather
- Soil
- Fertile, well-drained soil
- Spacing
- 15 cm
- In pots
- Best in the ground
- Feeding
- A general feed before sowing or planting
- Harvest
- About 70 days from sowing
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 3–9
- Difficulty
- Easy
Step by step
- Mid February – early April · 8 weeks before the last spring frost
Sow Seeds Indoors
Sow in modules or small pots of seed compost under cover. Sow thinly; transplant when pencil-thick.
- 14–21 days after “Sow Seeds Indoors” · Early March – mid March
Check Germination
Seedlings should appear in 14–21 days. If sown outdoors, thin to 15 cm apart when big enough to handle.
- 14–21 days after “Check Germination” · Mid March – late March
Pot On Seedlings
Move seedlings into 9 cm pots (or keep in modules) when they have their first true leaves.
- Late May · 6 weeks after the last spring frost
Harden Off
Stand plants outside by day for 7–10 days before planting out.
- Early June – early July · 7 weeks after the last spring frost
Plant Out
When pencil-thick, make 15 cm deep holes with a dibber, drop one leek in each and fill the hole with water (not soil).
- 30–45 days after “Plant Out” · Early July – mid July
Draw Up Soil
Draw soil around the stems a few times through summer for longer white shanks.
- Mid September – mid March · 4 weeks before the first autumn frost
Start Harvesting
Lift as needed with a fork; they stand well in cold weather.
- 120–150 days after “Start Harvesting” · Mid January – mid February
Finish and Clear
Clear the remains to the compost heap once cropping ends.
