Good King HenryBlitum bonus-henricus

Good King Henry

Good King Henry plants

1. Chenopodium bonus-henricus
2. Agathophytum bonus-henricus
3. Anserina bonus-henricus
4. Atriplex bonus-henricus
5. Orthospermum bonus-henricus

1. Poor-man's asparagus
2. Perennial goosefoot
3. Lincolnshire spinach
4. Markery
5. English mercury
6. Mercury goosefoot

1. Poor-man's asparagus
2. Perennial goosefoot
3. Lincolnshire spinach

1. Allgood

1. NameWilder Spinat

   Languagede

   Shared with

   1. Chenopodium album

   Clarification

   Usually refers to the perennial Good King Henry, but can occasionally refer to Chenopodium album.

1. Good King Henry
2. perennial vegetable
3. wild spinach
4. Blitum bonus-henricus

1. Tracheophyta
2. Angiosperms
3. Eudicots
4. Caryophyllales

Amaranths

1. Spinacia oleracea
2. Beta vulgaris
3. Chenopodium quinoa

1. leaves
2. young shoots
3. flower spikes

Good King Henry is a traditional perennial wild vegetable, valued as a low-maintenance alternative to annual spinach.

Once a staple in cottage gardens and often found near stables, it was nearly forgotten but is now seeing a revival in permaculture circles.

1. Taskharvest

   Label

   Asparagus-style harvest

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 4
   2. 5

   Notes

   Cut young shoots while they are tender.

Sun to partial shade

No special protection required

Loamy, humic, nutrient-rich

Regularly, never let soil dry out completely

Annual compost application in spring

As a perennial, plant in a permanent bed (e.g., herb corner).

1. Legumes
2. Potatoes

1. Heavy feeders
2. Brassicas

As a perennial, Good King Henry often remains in the same spot for decades.

1. Sap-sucking insects
2. Browsing pests

1. Leaf fungi

1. Sufficient spacing for air circulation
2. Regular compost application for strengthening
3. Mulching to prevent drying out

The plant is overall very robust; problems usually only occur with extreme nutrient deficiency or waterlogging.

1. Slugdowny-mildew

   Severitymedium

   Conditions

   1. Warm, humid weather
   2. Overcrowded planting

   Affected parts

   1. Leaves

   Prevention

   1. Maintain spacing
   2. Do not water over leaves

   Organic control

   1. Remove infected leaves
   2. Horsetail extract

1. Symptom

   Yellow leaf discoloration in young plants

   Possible causes

   1. nitrogen_deficiency
   2. waterlogging

   First checks

   1. Check soil moisture
   2. Review fertilization

1. Leaf color
2. Growth height
3. Leaf undersides

1. Early spring emergence
2. Leaf development
3. Bolting of flower stalks
4. Flowering period
5. Seed maturation
6. Dieback of aerial parts in late autumn

Perennial herb that regrows from the rootstock every year.

1. Young shoots
2. Leaves
3. Flower spikes

Regular picking encourages the regrowth of tender leaves.

1. Shoots are 10-15 cm long (for asparagus substitute)
2. Leaves are fully developed but still tender
3. Flower buds are still closed (for broccoli substitute)

Leaves wilt quickly; best processed immediately or wrapped in a damp cloth.

Can be kept in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.

1. Freezing (after blanching)
2. Drying (only for tea or seeds)

Short-term storage (fresh) or freezing

Fresh: 2 days; Frozen: 6-10 months

1. Blanching
2. Freezing

High-quality wild vegetable with a spinach-like flavor.

Leaves shrink significantly when cooked, similar to spinach.

1. Sauteing
2. Steaming
3. Raw (only in small quantities)
4. Frying

Savory, slightly nutty, similar to spinach but more intense.

1. Leaves
2. Young shoots
3. Flower spikes
4. Seeds

1. Older, tough stalks
2. Roots (inedible)

Contains saponins and oxalic acid. People with kidney problems should limit consumption.

Possible, but recommended only in moderation due to oxalic acid and saponins; cooking reduces these substances.

Easy

Allow seed heads to turn brown in late summer, cut them off and finish drying indoors.

Can cross with other Blitum species, but rarely with cultivated vegetables.

Threshing and winnowing to separate seeds from chaff.

As a herbaceous perennial, Good King Henry does not develop woody parts; pruning is primarily for harvest promotion and stand rejuvenation.

Serves as a food plant for various caterpillar species, including the Gänsefuß-Blütenspanner (Eupithecia sinuosaria).

Time to harvest tender shoots and young leaves.

A good time for rootstock division or autumn sowing.