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Good King Henry, or sometimes ‘poor man’s asparagus’, is a perennial that produces edible sprouts and spinach leaves. Once common in gardens, it is now very rare. Also known as Lincolnshire Spinach, the genus has been up for debate in recent years but is best known as Blitum bonus-henricus (syn. Chenopodium bonus-henricus). For centuries in the kitchen gardens of Europe, King Henry the Good fell out of favor (but out of taste) at the beginning of the 20th century. As is often the case, this once-loved vegetable has been relegated to ‘weed status’ in most gardens, but it has a good story to tell.
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Good King Henry Pests and Diseases
- Good King Henry does not usually suffer attack from pests or diseases.
- The leaves, shoots/stems and flowers of King Henry the Good are edible.
- Good King Henry leaves can be harvested as soon as they are big enough to eat. However, it is best to let the plant grow for a year and establish itself before the start of harvest.
- Leaves can be harvested several times from late spring to early autumn.
- Cut leaves 2 to 4 inches (5-10cm) long from plants with 6 to 8 leaves. Cut the older leaves first. Allow the remaining young leaves to grow to maturity.
- Very large and older leaves can be bitter; harvest leaves earlier rather than later.
- New crows are the most delicious. New shoots can be thinned and harvested usually from mid-sprig to early summer when they are very tender and very tasty. When summer comes, stop removing shoots and let the plant grow on and gain strength for the coming winter.
- Increased days (days longer than 14 hours) and warming weather (temperatures higher than 75°F/24°C) will cause King Henry the Good to bolt, flower and set seed. Bolting will mark the end of the harvest for the year; leaves harvested after the plant bolts will taste bitter.
The most important care measures
King Henry spinach is a very low maintenance plant that can tolerate even a little neglect and establishes well in most soils and the sites. There are also no known pests that cause real harm to Good King Henry. As it came from the Alps, the plants also tolerate very low temperatures. That said, however, if your soil is poor or lacks enough organic matter, it’s best to improve it before planting. For this, mix in some quality potting compost or complete fertiliser. During the winter, you can cover the plant with leaf mulch, this will make it sprout earlier in the spring.
All parts of the Good King Henry plant are edible, even for pets, such as dogs and cats. Good King Henry contains some oxalic acid, but cooking reduces that. People prone to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should generally be careful with foods containing oxalic acid.
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
Asparagus is one of our most appreciated vegetables, and growing asparagus at home is very worthwhile. By the time asparagus arrives at the grocery store it is often very dried out and somewhat woody.
Native asparagus is much better in my opinion, but it’s an investment. You will not be able to harvest for the first 2-3 years as the plants grow.
Read more about them in our wonderful feature, wives of King Henry VIII.
Henry was desperate for a male heir to inherit his throne. There were many pregnancies, but only three of her children survived.
Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, had many pregnancies, but unfortunately most of them ended in stillbirths. The royal couple rejoiced when their first son, Henry, was born in 1511. A great party was thrown, but sadly he only lasted until he was seven weeks old.
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