Giant Musselburgh
Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum 'Giant Musselburgh'
A legendary Scottish heirloom leek that produces enormous, thick white stems up to 3 inches in diameter and excellent cold hardiness. This impressive variety has been grown since the 1830s and remains a favorite for its mild, sweet flavor and ability to overwinter in harsh climates. Giant Musselburgh is the go-to choice for gardeners wanting impressive leeks for soups and braising.
Harvest
120-150d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
5–10
USDA hardiness
Height
3-4 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Giant Musselburgh in USDA Zone 7
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Giant Musselburgh · Zones 5–10
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | — | June – July | October – September |
| Zone 2 | — | — | May – July | October – September |
| Zone 11 | — | — | January – February | May – December |
| Zone 12 | — | — | January – February | May – December |
| Zone 13 | — | — | January – February | May – December |
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | September – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | September – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | August – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | August – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | August – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | July – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | June – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | June – December |
Succession Planting
Giant Musselburgh runs 120–150 days to harvest, so you don't get many shots at succession in a single season. In zone 7, direct sow from March through May; a March sowing targets a September–October pull, and a May sowing pushes harvest into November, which suits this variety fine — it handles light frost and sweetens noticeably after a cold snap drops temps below 40°F. Two sowings, spaced about 6 weeks apart, is about all the calendar allows. Don't bother sowing after late May; soil temperatures above 75°F drag germination down sharply, and plants started that late won't size up before hard freezes hit.
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches, 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Type: Capsule.
Edibility: The leaves and bulbs can be eaten raw or cooked in small quantities.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Giant Musselburgh leeks keep 2-3 weeks refrigerated when properly stored. Trim roots to 1 inch and remove damaged outer leaves, but leave the white and light green portions intact. Wrap in damp paper towels, then place in perforated plastic bags in your refrigerator's crisper drawer. Don't wash until ready to use, as excess moisture encourages decay.
For longer storage, slice cleaned leeks into rounds and freeze in single layers on baking sheets before transferring to freezer bags - they'll keep 8-10 months and work perfectly in soups and stews. Dehydrating thinly sliced leeks creates excellent seasoning flakes for year-round use. You can also ferment chopped leeks with salt to create a tangy condiment similar to sauerkraut, though this is less common. The thick stems of Giant Musselburgh hold their texture better than thin varieties when preserved, making them ideal for batch processing.
History & Origin
Origin: Macronesia, Mediterranean, Asia
Advantages
- +Edible: The leaves and bulbs can be eaten raw or cooked in small quantities.
Considerations
- -Toxic: Low severity
- -Causes contact dermatitis
Companion Plants
Carrots pair well with leeks because their fine roots sit at a different depth than the leek's shallow base, and the two crops are documented to reduce pressure from carrot fly and onion thrips through mutual scent interference. Brassicas — cabbage, broccoli — slot in nearby without trouble; they want similar pH (6.0–7.0) and don't undercut each other for root space. In our zone 7 Georgia garden, tucking spinach or lettuce between leek rows makes use of shaded ground while the leeks are still sizing up through fall. Keep beans and peas out of the picture: alliums produce sulfur compounds that suppress the Rhizobium bacteria legumes depend on for nitrogen fixation, so one crop or the other will come up short.
Plant Together
Carrots
Leeks repel carrot fly while carrots help break up soil for leek roots
Tomatoes
Leeks deter aphids and improve tomato flavor while tomatoes don't compete for nutrients
Brassicas (Cabbage, Broccoli)
Leeks repel cabbage worms and flea beetles that commonly attack brassicas
Celery
Both have similar growing requirements and leeks help repel celery leaf spot
Lettuce
Leeks provide natural pest control while lettuce uses different soil nutrients
Strawberries
Leeks deter slugs and aphids that damage strawberry plants
Spinach
Compatible root depths and leeks help repel leaf miners
Parsley
Both herbs complement each other and don't compete for growing space
Keep Apart
Beans
Legumes can inhibit allium growth and onion family plants may stunt bean development
Peas
Alliums can reduce nitrogen fixation in peas and compete for similar nutrients
Asparagus
Both are heavy feeders that compete for nutrients and have conflicting soil preferences
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170000)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good cold tolerance and rust resistance
Common Pests
Leek moth, onion thrips, leaf miners
Diseases
White rot, rust, downy mildew
Troubleshooting Giant Musselburgh
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Pale silvery streaking on leaves with tiny black specks (frass), plants looking washed out by midsummer
Likely Causes
- Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) — rasping the leaf surface and hiding deep in the leaf sheaths
- Hot, dry spells that stress the plant and favor thrips population explosions
What to Do
- 1.Blast the leaves with a strong stream of water two or three mornings in a row to knock thrips off
- 2.Apply spinosad or insecticidal soap directly into the leaf sheaths where thrips shelter — surface sprays alone won't reach them
- 3.Keep soil moisture consistent at 1–2 inches per week; drought-stressed leeks are more vulnerable
Plants collapsing at the base with white fluffy fungal growth and small round black sclerotia near the roots, often in patches
Likely Causes
- White rot (Stromatinia cepivorum) — a soil-borne fungus whose sclerotia persist in soil for 20+ years
- Planting alliums in the same bed repeatedly without rotation
What to Do
- 1.Pull and bag the affected plants immediately — do not compost them
- 2.Do not plant any allium (leeks, onions, garlic) in that bed for at least 4 years, and even that may not be enough if the infection was heavy
- 3.Improve drainage if the bed stays wet; white rot spreads fastest in cool, saturated soil around 50–60°F
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Giant Musselburgh take to grow from seed?▼
Can you grow Giant Musselburgh leeks in containers?▼
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What does Giant Musselburgh taste like compared to other leeks?▼
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Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.