Fat Hen

Fat Hen (Chenopodium album) is a widespread and often overlooked wild edible, providing nutritious leaves similar to spinach but with a slightly earthy flavour. It's an annual 'weed' that can be cultivated for a continuous supply of greens. It grows to an ultimate height of 1.5m (if left to bolt) and a spread of 30cm. As a hardy annual (H4), it self-seeds readily, appearing from spring onwards, with leaves harvestable throughout summer. It thrives in full sun and disturbed, fertile soil. Small, inconspicuous green flowers appear in summer. An excellent wild food, rich in vitamins and minerals.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Fertile, disturbed soil.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug, Sep.