Good King Henry

Good King Henry is a species of goosefoot which is native to much of central and southern Europe. Good King Henry has been grown as a vegetable in cottage gardens for hundreds of years, although this dual-purpose vegetable is now rarely grown and the species is more often considered a weed.

Location
A full sun position is ideal, but the plants will tolerate light shade. The plants will not grow well indoors.

Soil
Provide a deeply dug, rich loam soil with good drainage.

Sowing
Sow in spring in drills 6mm (¼in) deep and 50cm (20in) between rows. Roots can be divided for propagation in autumn.

Thinning
Thin seedlings to 10-30cm (4-12in) apart depending how thick you want them to grow.

Aftercare
Water in dry weather and fertilize during summer.

Harvesting
Allow plants 1 year to develop, then gather leaves as required. Pick flowers and spears as blooms begin to open.

Preserving
Freeze only when using in cooked dishes.