Open-pollinated. Perennial to Zone 3. Also known as Lincolnshire Spinach and Fat Hen. Used as a potherb, one of the first greens of spring and one of the last of fall. Harvest the dark green arrow-shaped leaves and use like spinach. Ancient plant used in festive meals, in meat dishes and as a side dish, very popular in Europe before it was supplanted by spinach.
The name comes from the germanic haganrich literally ‘king of the hedge,’ supposedly a goose-footed gremlin that helps around the house and puts things where they belong. (We could use one of those!)
Considered a great delicacy. Gather shoots while they are still tender at about 5" high, peel and boil, then use like asparagus. Or harvest the dark green arrow-shaped leaves like and use spinach. Beloved by chickens, both for the greens and the oil-rich seeds.
Prefers rich soil in semi-shady areas, though will grow in full sun. Stratify seeds: fluctuation of high and low temperatures aids germination. Direct sow in spring or fall or transplant very young seedlings in spring. Once established the plants don’t like transplanting. Requires a year of growth before leaves can be harvested. If left uncut, center stalks grow to 2½'.
①From early May through October 31, items shipping from
our garden seeds warehouse ship twice a week, usually
Tuesday and Thursday. For quickest turnaround
time order online by noon Monday or Wednesday.
We will not be fulfilling seed orders from May
20 - May 22 while we do physical inventory count. Orders
placed by Monday, May 19 at 10am will be shipped before
the break. We will resume normal order fulfillment on
Friday, May 23.
This item is sustainably grown