Description
Fat Hen, also called Lamb?s Quarters or White Goosefoot, is an ancient edible green gathered and cultivated long before spinach became a garden staple. Chenopodium album grows quickly, tolerates modest soils, and offers tender young leaves for steaming or saut?ing plus seeds that can be cooked like a small grain.
Why Grow It
- Ancient annual edible green also known as Lamb?s Quarters or White Goosefoot.
- Young leaves are mild and spinach-like when cooked, with harvest possible in 30-45 days.
- Seeds can be cooked like quinoa or ground into flour for small-scale experiments.
- Vigorous 2-4 ft plants tolerate full sun to light shade and many well-drained soils.
- Self-sows readily in suitable gardens, making it useful at food forest edges and cottage plots.
Growing Information
| Botanical name | Chenopodium album |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual edible green; self-sows readily |
| Mature height | 2-4 ft. |
| Light | Full sun to light shade |
| Bloom or harvest window | Greens in 30-45 days; seed harvest in 80-100 days |
| Seed count | 100 seeds |
| Leaf color | Soft gray-green goosefoot leaves with pale mealy new growth and green-white seed clusters |
| Sowing advice | Direct sow in a prepared bed after frost or start in trays for transplanting. Cover lightly, keep evenly moist, and thin young plants for tender greens. |
| Spacing | Thin 8-12 in. apart for leaf harvest, or give more room if growing plants to seed |
| Germination | 7-14 days in mild to warm conditions with steady moisture |
Best For
- edible wild greens
- cottage garden greens
- food forest edges
- spinach-like cooked leaves
- seed grain experiments
- pollinator-friendly field edges
Packet Details
Includes 100 seeds. Store seeds cool, dry, and dark until sowing. As with any edible green, harvest from clean soil and confirm plant identity before eating.
FAQ
Is Fat Hen the same as Lamb?s Quarters?
Yes. Fat Hen, Lamb?s Quarters, White Goosefoot, and Chenopodium album all refer to this edible annual green.
How do I eat Fat Hen?
Harvest young tender leaves and cook them like spinach in saut?s, soups, or stews. The mature seeds can also be cooked like a small grain.
Will it self-sow?
Yes. Chenopodium album self-sows readily if allowed to mature seed. Harvest greens early or remove seed heads if you want tighter control.
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