Chenopodium bonus-henricus

Good King Henry is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows to 30 to 70 cm (12 to 28in). It is cultivated for its leaves, which can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach. The stem of the flower spike can also be prepared and eaten like asparagus. The sowing period extends from March to April for a harvest starting in mid-May. It is also possible to sow in October for a harvest starting in April.

This European plant was already harvested in medieval times as a medicinal plant. The name 'Good King Henry' comes from the Central European pagan fairy 'Guter Heinrich', not from the King of England.

The leaves of Good King Henry are eaten raw in salads when they are young in spring, and cooked like spinach in autumn. In summer, the leaves become too tough to be consumed, but the young flower spike can be enjoyed in the same way as asparagus. Good King Henry is rich in calcium, iron, and phosphorus, and has medicinal properties.

Good King Henry requires a deep and moist soil, with the addition of compost (3kg/m²) once a year at the end of winter.

Harvest: The leaves and flower spikes are harvested as needed.

Storage: The leaves do not keep well and should be consumed quickly.

Gardener's tip: From late June to late July, cut the flower spikes to stimulate leaf production.