The Leek: A Noble Vegetable for All Seasons

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Photo by Fotolia/Maria Brzostowska
The leek is sort of like an onion, but is also called "the poor man's asparagus."

Tantalizing to the taste buds and easy to grow, the leek (Allium porrum) is all too frequently neglected by gardeners in North America. In fact, I’d never even tasted these onion-like morsels before I married an Englishman, but now that I’ve been introduced to them, neither my garden nor my kitchen is often without a goodly supply.

The leek has a rich history of admirers dating back at least to the Roman emperor Nero, and including the English playwright Shakespeare, as well as a respectable portion of the population of Wales, the country which chose the vegetable as its national emblem (just as Ireland’s is the shamrock and England’s the rose). This internationally popular Allium is slightly milder in flavor than its cousin the common yellow onion (which makes it a welcome addition to any food from soup to salad) and is relatively easy to grow (thanks largely to its frost-hardy nature).

Seed Time …

Although it prefers rich, crumbly earth, “poor man’s asparagus” (as the French, who are among the most avid leek-lovers, call it) can be grown in almost any soil and almost any part of the country. There are a number of varieties available, which tend to differ primarily in size. The large types are best for purees, stews, and soups (and can even be stuffed), while the smaller specimens are delicious when served in salads or cooked whole. [EDITOR’S NOTE: A number of seed companies sell leeks, including Burpee, Park, and Stokes.]

Leeks are very tolerant of frost and thus thrive in the colder parts of the country as well as in more temperate climes. In those areas where the winters are mild, they can even be “stored” in the garden all through the cold months and gathered as needed.

  • Published on Jan 1, 1983
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