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On Apr 30, 2004, GILHOULEYHORSE from Hood River, OR (Zone 6a) wrote:
It was hard to start, but after it got going, is real hardy. It's good for chickens, also called "fat hen". It's one of the first things ready to eat in the early spring, before anything else.
Has triangular/arrow shaped, mid to dark green leaves which are mealy when young and felted beneath. Bears long spikes of very small, greenish flowers.
Flowers May-August.
Adores nirtogen rich soil and often appears on livestock farms unannounced. Likes a deep, rich,well drained soil in full sun but will take some light shade. Once you have this chap he will appear all over the place but is easy to pull up.
This really ought to go into the Vegetable section as it is a great source of iron, vitamins and minerals. It has less of an after taste than Spinach and is just as good for you, in fact it tastes rather insipid so may go unnoticed in childrens meals. It is used raw or cooked in all sorts of meals ranging from casseroles to pies. Neolithic man ate this herb as part of his diet, maybe he didn't like Spinach either!
The flower spikes can be stemed and eaten like Broccoli and shoots as Asparagus, tossed in butter.
The seeds produce a green dye and was used in the production of untanned leather as such.
Made into a poultice the leaves can help heal skin sores and the root was used as a cough medicine for sheep.
Allow to grow for one year before harvesting any of the plant.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Lemoore, California Grove City, Ohio Hood River, Oregon
3 members have or want this plant for trade.
