Good King Henry

[Piglottie]

Anyone else grow it?  I got a packet of seed from the Organic Gardening Catalogue and planted some in modules (as new lottie not quite ready for planting).  So far, zilch.  Planted first lot over 3 weeks ago, second lot about 1.5 weeks ago but nothing has come up.  Could it be because I've planted them in modules?  Everything else has germinated really well.  Baffled!  ???

[Piglottie]

[aquilegia]

I have a packet of GKH seeds too. I believe it takes quite a while to germinate (hence, haven't got around to sow it yet - I know that doesn't make sense!) I'll look it up...

[terrace max]

I've tried germinating it twice to no avail...

It's one of the many oddity vegetables described as tasting 'a bit like spinach' which usually means 'don't worry if you can't grow this: it tastes horrible'...

[john_miller]

Spinach? Not really. Has a zing to it but incomprable (literally)  flavour, I like it. Always glad to sample it as it is one of my most persistent field weeds-take note!

[aquilegia]

I remembered a bit more about it - it needs cold to germinate. You should put it in a plastic bag in the fridge for a week and then put somewhere warmer, but not too warm. It can then take a few months to germinate still.

[terrace max]

Always glad to sample it as it is one of my most persistent field weeds-take note!

Isn't that fat hen? (Heh heh 'fat hen')

[Hyacinth]

Way back, I sent someone a packet of GKH seeds, but can't remember who...

I'd bought them as the description, I think, said that they'd leaves you could use like spinach, and stalks like asparagus ::)

Seemed good to me! Then I heard Bob Flowerdew on GQT talking about it - quite invasive, I believe?  Certainly too much for my garden plot, so offloaded the packet onto someone who's got a lottie...

Now, who could that be ??? ::)

[kenkew]

It grows all over the place, why would you need to buy seed?

[aquilegia]

Oh heck - not so keen on the idea now. Who wants my packet of seeds?

[Hyacinth]

P'raps whoever had my first packet??

Try Swap-Shop & if you get anything half-edible in a well-behaved sort of way, we'll split the difference??

[moonbells]

There is a taxonomic difference between GKH and Fat Hen, being Chenopodium bonus-henricus and C. album respectively.  But both have been used over the centuries as a spinach substitute and also grown for the fatty seeds and as chicken food, hence the Fat hen name.

It's a blinking nuisance in my manure heap...!

moonbells

[Piglottie]

Didn't realise it was so invasive.  Seeing as though I have enough problems with marestail, dandelions & co, might give it a miss.  I'm with Aqui on this - anyone want a packet of seeds?   ;)

[terrace max]

So just to be clear (and before we all throw our GKH seeds away):

Are Fat Hen AND Good King Henry both invasive weeds, or just Fat Hen...?

[Robert_Brenchley]

I get fat hen everywhere; it's one of my major weeds. I don't think I'll be encouraging any close relatives, somehow.

[Yuet_Lee]

Hi there,
What are they ??? Weeds or vegetables? Can anybody take a picture of it? I really like to see which one of you're talking about please :)
yuet

[Piglottie]

Yuetlee - haven't grown it yet but got seeds from Organic Gardening Catalogue.  If you use this link http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=803 it should (not too hot on links!) take you to the description on OGC where there's a picture.  HTH.