Large Musselburg Leek

Large Musselburg leek is a classic heirloom variety, originally from Scotland, renowned for its thick, white stems and blue-green foliage. This dependable leek is prized for its mild, sweet onion flavour and exceptional cold hardiness, making it a staple for Canadian gardens and market growers. It’s perfect for soups, stews, grilling, and more, and is one of the last leeks to bolt in the garden.

Key Features of Large Musselburg Leek Seeds

• Heirloom, open-pollinated seeds
• Produces thick, white stems (2–3 inches in diameter) with robust blue-green leaves
• Mild, sweet flavour—ideal for fresh eating, cooking, and winter dishes
• Exceptionally cold-hardy; suitable for Canadian climates and overwintering in milder regions
• Reliable performance and high yields
• Biennial, usually grown as an annual
• Suitable for garden beds, borders, and market gardens

Planting and Growing Large Musselburg Leeks

• Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before last spring frost, or direct sow outdoors in early spring or late fall [heirloom-seeds.ca]
• Plant seeds 0.5–1 cm deep; optimum germination temperature is 18–29°C
• Transplant seedlings when pencil-thick, spacing 15 cm apart in rows 30–60 cm apart [ecoseedbank.com]
• Choose a sunny location with loose, fertile, well-drained soil
• Butter the leeks (mound soil around stems) to encourage longer white stalks
• Days to maturity: 100–120 days from transplanting; harvest young leeks earlier for tender greens [heirloom-seeds.ca]

Care Tips

• Water regularly to keep soil moist but not soggy
• Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds
• Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer at planting and mid-season
• Mulch generously in autumn for overwintering in zones 3 and up [heirloom-seeds.ca]

Harvesting & Storing

• Harvest when stems reach desired thickness; young leeks are tender and mild
• Store harvested leeks at 2°C and high humidity for long-term freshness
• Use in soups, stews, grilling, or as a substitute for onions