A superb all-rounder for reliability, hardiness and flavour, this heritage variety was first cultivated by Victorian gardeners in the Scottish town of Musselburgh after being brought over from France in the 1830s. Since then it has become a firm favourite all around the UK, particularly in colder regions where other vegetables may not thrive - great for picking from late autumn to early spring when little else is available to bring in from the plot to the plate. A shorter variety of leek, it has densely packed, sturdy stems with creamy white bases rising to dark green leaves at the top. You won't find Musselburgh leeks in the supermarket as their growing span is too long commercial production, but this variety will reward the home gardener many times over with plentiful crops of superb quality. These leeks are easy to grow, with good resistance to pests and extremes of heat and cold. They can be left in the ground until needed, although once picked they will keep for up to 3 weeks in