13 Traditional Irish Crops to Plant in Honor of St. Patrick’s Day

Ireland is a lush and gorgeous island with a long culinary history of warm stews and herbal teas. Although it sits at an extreme northern latitude, it enjoys a mild oceanic climate. Gardeners in Ireland live in hardiness zones between 7 and 9 and can grow many diverse crops. 

From native perennials like brambles to introduced staples like peas and potatoes, Irish crops tell stories of immigration and survival. These plants are easy to cultivate and produce bountiful harvests. 

Why not honor St. Patrick’s Day this year by planting these 13 traditional Irish crops in your garden? You’ll have all the ingredients you need to recreate the timeless recipes of this stunning island country. 

Clancy Potato

Our Rating

Clancy Potato Seeds

View at Botanical Interests

Peas and Oats Cover Crop

Our Rating

Peas and Oats Cover Crop Seeds

View at Botanical Interests

King Richard Leek

Our Rating

King Richard Leek Seeds

View at Botanical Interests

Oats

	botanical name Avena sativa
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 6-7

Before the introduction of potatoes, oats made it to Ireland via Western Europe. Originally native to Asia’s fertile crescent and the Mediterranean, oats were one of the important grains in the agricultural revolution. When Celtic hunters and gatherers got a hold of them, they planted them throughout the island. 

Oats made a comeback in Ireland after the potato famine of the mid-19th century. Traditionally, people used them to make porridge, stews, and beer. They’re full of nutrients like fiber and protein. Home-grown oats are always gluten-free, making them perfect for gluten-intolerant gardeners. 

If you live in zones 3 through 10, you’ll have no problem growing these ancient grains. Sow your seeds directly in well-drained soil in a spot with full sun to partial shade. Lightly rake the seeds into the soil, water, and wait for your first crops to appear. Besides providing food, oats make excellent ground cover and can thrive in small containers or beds. 

Potatoes

	botanical name Solanum tuberosum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 3’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Potatoes are synonymous with Irish cuisine. Although these tubers are in traditional Irish dishes like Shepherd’s Pie and colcannon, they’re not Irish at all. Ancient Andean cultures developed thousands of potato varieties over millennia. When European colonizers brought them to Europe in the 16th century, they spread throughout the continent, eventually reaching the Emerald Island. 

Because they were easy to grow and productive, potatoes replaced important food crops like oats. People stopped relying on foraged herbs and vegetables and instead grew this foreign mono-crop. When the potato blight hit in the mid-19th century, it started the Irish Famine and killed between 1 and 1.5 million people. Another 1 to 2 million people left the country for North and South America. 

As costly as these crops were, they’re still regarded as some of the country’s traditional crops. It’s hard to find a dish that doesn’t rely on them. Potatoes are easy to cultivate in well-drained and nutrient-dense soil under full sun. Plant them in garden beds, containers like this one, or in creative pots. 

Leeks

	botanical name Allium ampeloprasum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 5-10

Leeks are so delicious that gardeners cultivate them in almost every corner of the globe. They quickly grew in popularity when they arrived during the Celtic Iron Age (500 BCE to 400 CE). Today, they’re an important Irish crop and used in dishes from potato soup to seafood chowder. 

These relatives of onions and garlic thrive in full sun to partial shade. They need well-drained, nutrient-rich soil and regular watering to thrive. Once you get them started, they’ll produce tons of aromatic leafy greens and flavorful stems. 

Use leeks in Irish soups and stews or corned beef and cabbage recipes. Plant a mixture of early and late season varieties to get the most out of these incredibly flavorful vegetables. 

Stinging Nettles

	botanical name Urtica dioica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 3’
	hardiness zones 4-10

Stinging nettles grow around the world as weeds. However, they’re one of the earliest sources of food for the Celts of Ireland. They’re also incredibly healthy and delicious, if you can handle them with care. 

Nettles thrive in full sun or partial shade. As long as there is moisture, they thrive in almost any soil type as perennial plants. Once established, they make excellent cover crops and attract helpful pollinators. 

Use gardening gloves when handling them. Their hairs can be very painful to touch. Boil young stems and leaves in salt water to make a nutrient dense tea or broth. Once boiled, the greens are full of flavor and nutrition. Add them to corned beef and cabbage to kick up the Celtic flavors. 

Peas

	botanical name Pisum sativum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-10’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Peas came to Ireland via England and spread in popularity around the 18th and 19th centuries. Soon, people started using them in dishes such as shepherd’s pie and similar meat stews. 

These easygoing vegetables are garden staples around Ireland. They produce nutritious and delicious seeds. If those aren’t enough reasons to cultivate them, consider their epic abilities to attract pollinators. 

Plant peas in well-drained soil after soaking the seeds for up to 12 hours. In cold climates, start them indoors, but in warmer regions, start them directly outside in spring. Keep them consistently watered but not waterlogged, and they’ll produce tons of edible foliage, flowers, and seed pods. 

Thyme

	botanical name Thymus vulgaris
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-12”
	hardiness zones 5-9

Thyme is one of the world’s most grown culinary herbs. It’s originally from the Mediterranean region but became a popular garden herb in Ireland hundreds of years ago. It thrives in a variety of climates but is considered an evergreen herb in zones 5 through 11. 

Many Irish recipes call for a sprig of thyme or dried thyme leaves. Use it to flavor lamb stews and other hearty meat dishes. Or add it as an aromatic green garnish to your favorite Celtic dishes. 

This popular herb is easy to grow and doesn’t need much maintenance. It loves areas with full sun and well-drained, sandy soil. Grow it with other herbs such as rosemary, lavender, and oregano. After it establishes itself in your soil, it will grow into a semi-woody herbaceous perennial. 

Carrots

	botanical name Daucus carota subsp. sativus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 12”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Carrots are quintessential to Irish cooking. They’re important bases for soups and stews. If you leave them out of shepherd’s pie, most Irish families will cause a ruckus—at least mine will. 

These garden staples evolved from wild carrot varieties. Before they were a common food, they were a popular folk medicine in ancient Rome and central Europe. Eventually, horticulturists hybridized them to be the orange varieties we cultivate today. 

These incredibly healthy and versatile root vegetables grow in almost the entire US, from Alaska to Florida. They prefer colder climates with cooler summers. Grow them in well-drained soil with consistent moisture. Once established, they attract tons of helpful pollinators and produce flavorful roots and nutritious greens. 

Brambles

	botanical name Rubus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Over 6’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Brambles are flowering plants in the rose family, which includes blackberries, raspberries, and loganberries. They produce delicious fruits that are full of nutrition and flavor. In Ireland, they grow wild and are used in hedges and natural garden fencing. 

It’s hard to find a home in Ireland where foraged or home-grown brambles are not eaten. They grow almost everywhere and a lot of family recipes, from cobblers to jams, call for them. 

These productive perennial vines are easy to grow. All you need is well-drained soil with balanced nutrients and at least 6 hours of sun. There are hundreds of varieties and cultivars to choose from, from thornless to cold-tolerant hybrids. 

Savoy Cabbage

	botanical name Brassica oleracea var. sabauda
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 24”
	hardiness zones 2-11

There are many cabbage varieties to choose from. Cabbage grows as an annual in almost every climate zone in the U.S. It needs very little maintenance and can handle long periods of cold temperatures. 

Because of their adaptability and ease to grow, they became a staple crop in Ireland. The earliest record of their use in the island is from 17th century texts. However, they were probably grown in the country long before then. They provided poor farmers an easy-to-grow and nutrient-dense crop. 

Savoy cabbages are my favorite because of their nutritious and flavorful thick leaves and versatility. Use this crop in traditional Irish dishes such as corned beef and cabbage or add them to salads and stews. 

Chives

	botanical name Allium schoenoprasum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12-24”
	hardiness zones 4-8

Chives are delicious and widely spread, native to both Europe and North America. They’re incredibly versatile, nutritious, and easy to grow. In Ireland, these crops are super popular and common in a variety of Irish dishes. They make excellent seasoning for potato dishes and stews. 

These onion relatives produce long edible leaves that are hollow and cylindrical. They taste like a sweet cross between an onion and garlic. They grow as a cool-season perennial and need a soil temperature of over 60°F (16°C) to germinate. 

Plant them in well-drained soil in garden beds or containers. They’ll come back each year with vigorous growth. Feed them plenty of compost to encourage big, healthy blooms and foliage. 

Apples

	botanical name Malus domestica
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 20-30’
	hardiness zones 3-9

It’s hard to imagine the Irish countryside without apple trees. Apples are native to central Asia, but people have cultivated them around the world for thousands of years. Little information exists about apple trees making it to Emerald Island, but when they did, they took off. 

Apples can grow in diverse climates and soil types, as long as they’re well-drained. They need full sun to thrive and require very little maintenance. Once established, they produce tons of edible fruit and pollinator-attracting flowers. 

Elderberries

	botanical name Sambucus canadensis/nigra
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-20’
	hardiness zones 4-7

Elderberries are ancient fruit trees that have grown around Europe and Ireland since Celtic times. They were an important ingredient in Celtic folk medicine and diets. Today, they’re still used in jams and teas. 

Their fruits are delicious in stews, teas, and jams. Make sure to cook them before eating. Their aromatic flowers make excellent infusions and tea. Some people infuse elderberry flowers in alcohol for popular aperitifs. 

Grow elderberries in well-drained soil as hedges or border trees. They’ll grow fast, so space them far apart. They flourish in cold and rainy regions such as the Pacific Northwest. They do have a tendency to invade in some areas, so be aware of your county’s restrictions before planting.

Chamomile

	botanical name Chamaemelum nobile
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 24’
	hardiness zones 2-8

Chamomile plants are easy-to-grow self-seeding annual flowers native to Ireland. This Irish herbal crop produces tons of bright white and yellow flowers and aromatic foliage. Since ancient times, people have been making soothing teas with them and adding them to herbal remedies.