LEEKS really are top of the winter crop pops — especially if you have a good bit of space in the plot.

They may take up a lot of ground for a long time, especially if you choose a winter variety, but I really do urge you to do just that.

That’s not simply because there ain’t much else out there in the plot, but because they make a great main ingredient to a hearty leek and potato soup and a tasty addition to many more meals.

I always favour thinly sowing Musselburgh or Lyon Prizetaker now in a nine inch pot in the greenhouse for planting out in the summer. 

Isle of Wight County Press:

Musselburgh is a heritage variety, well-known to older gardeners, and selective breeding has resulted in a much-improved strain over the seed which was launched more than 100 years ago and won awards after the First World War.

Some varieties mature in autumn and do not fare well as cold sets in — and especially when the ground is frozen — not so with Musselburgh and Lyon, which is also a much-improved old variety.

They may wilt, but they will pick up and will only start to bolt when temperatures really start to climb.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Last year, I put more than 100 plants in the plot and have 20 or so left to harvest, and I expect to be able to do that until the end of the month.

It is well worth growing your own from seed because it is so easy and much cheaper than buying plants from garden centres or by mail order.

Simply wait until the plants are nine inches tall, snip off the top couple of inches of leaf, pop then into dibber holes and water them in. 

Isle of Wight County Press:

Even if you do not have a garden you can grow a taster in a large container.

I have tried the British-bred Northern Lights in the past and will do so again, now my stock of Musselburgh seed has run out.

The leaves change from blue-green to an eye-catching deep purple during the winter.

They too stand well during cold weather and, like the other two varieties can be harvested from December to late spring.

As well as tasting great they look most attractive too.

                                                        TOP TIPS

  • Tie-in new honeysuckle and clematis stems to their supports as they start to sprout.
  • Continue to remove faded flowers from winter pansies to stop them setting seed and encourage new flowers.
  • Move evergreen trees and shrubs now, provided the soil isn't waterlogged.
  • Pinch out the tips of fuchsia plants and sweet pea plant shoots to encourage bushy growth this summer.
  • Give the greenhouse a thorough scrub (if you haven't already) with hot soapy water. This will get rid of pests and diseases and let in more light.
  • You can work-in a general-purpose fertiliser, such as pelleted chicken manure, or blood, fish and bone before planting in the veg patch.
  • Deadhead daffodils as the flowers finish — but allow foliage to die back naturally.