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To weed or not to weed
Gingerfingers
Posts: 28
in Plants
ID help please -if you be so kind. Is this a weed?
0
Gingerfingers
Posts: 28
Posts
Yes
it's called Fat Hen - a common weed of disturbed ground.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks dove. Right I'll dig this one up tomorrow morning.
Fat Hen leaves, shoots, flowers & seeds are all edible - it's high in iron and you can eat it raw or cooked. Makes good soup.
Liri - interesting. Do u use it in soups? As a flavour enhancer or as the main ingredient?
My Essex granny used to cook it as a green veg, in my youth. A bit like spinach as I remember... Soup - hmm, it was green and tasty but since we're talking 50 years ago I don't remember, I'm afraid.
Just googled "fat hen edible" and it's got some hints for using it. Bet you could find recipes too.
Yes, edible and related to the plant known as Lambs Quarter - it tastes 'earthy' like spinach and chard and like them it cooks down to a very small amount so one plant wouldn't really go very far - you could add it to a soup or stir fry.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Liri/dove I have about 5-6 of them but the one in photo is the largest. Will taste before I dig up and if I like it I might let one go to seed so I can plant a row of these next year. Did a bit of googling and these leaves do look longer than others online.