If there is one vegetable that earns its place in every Irish garden, it is the leek. And if you want a leek that stands in the ground right through an Irish winter without flinching, Porro di Delft is the variety to grow. Hardy, dependable, and still producing thick, tender white stems when everything else in the garden has packed up for the year.
This late variety produces long, thick stems with a slightly bulbous base and broad dark green leaves. The flesh is mild, sweet and tender, perfect for soups, stews, roasting, braising and winter casseroles. Sow in spring, transplant in summer, and harvest from autumn right through to the following spring. In a typical Irish winter, Porro di Delft stands without protection and handles frost, rain and wind without complaint.
ðą Sowing: February to May (indoors or nursery bed)
âïļ Light: Full sun
ðĄïļ Germination: 10 to 20 days
ð Height: Medium to tall, broad dark green leaves
ðŠī Spacing: 15 to 20 cm between plants, 30 to 40 cm between rows
âģ Harvest: October to March
ðŋ Growing tips for Ireland Sow in modules or trays from February onwards in a cool greenhouse, polytunnel, or bright windowsill. Transplant outdoors when seedlings are pencil-thick, usually June or July. Make a deep hole with a dibber, drop the seedling in, and water in without backfilling. This old trick produces longer, better-blanched stems.
Earth up around the stems as they grow through autumn to increase the length of the white, tender portion. Mulch between rows to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Leeks are one of the most trouble-free vegetables in Irish conditions. They tolerate heavy soil, wet weather, and hard frost. Harvest as needed through the winter, leaving the rest standing in the ground as a living larder.
