How to grow Good King Henry

Where to plant

Good King Henry grows in most soils, from clay to sand, and in sun or part shade. It does best in fertile soil rich in compost, and in summer the leaves are better quality when the plant has light shade. As a perennial it needs a permanent spot, such as the edge of a fruit garden or a shady corner where other vegetables struggle.

• The Northeast, Midwest, Northern Plains, Mountain West, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, Northern California and Alaska: sow or plant in spring, in March to May depending on how early your soil can be worked.
• Hot, humid summers in the South do not suit it, and the regional calendar on this page does not recommend it there.

How to plant

1. Sow seed in spring in pots or trays in a cold frame or cool spot. Germination can be slow and uneven, so be patient.
2. Prick out the seedlings into their own pots when they are large enough to handle, and plant them out in summer.
3. Space plants about 16 inches apart in ground enriched with compost.
4. Alternatively, divide an established clump in spring and replant the pieces.

Watering and feeding

Water in dry spells to keep the leaves tender. Topdress the bed with compost each year rather than using strong fertilizers.

Pruning and care through the year

• Let plants establish for a season before cropping hard.
• Keep picking leaves through the season, which keeps them tender and slows the plant from running to seed. Remove flower spikes if you want leaves rather than shoots and seed.
• Old leaves turn tough and bitter, so cut tired plants back to encourage fresh growth.

Harvesting

In spring, cut the young flowering shoots just below soil level when they are about 5 inches (12 cm) long, peel them and cook them like asparagus. Pick young leaves from spring into early summer, when they are at their best. They wilt quickly, so use them soon after picking.

The small flower buds can also be cooked.

Using it

Cook the leaves like spinach, ideally mixed with milder greens. Like spinach and its other relatives, the leaves contain oxalic acid and small amounts of saponins, which cooking reduces, so eat raw leaves only in small amounts. People prone to kidney stones, gout or arthritis may want to limit it.

Propagation and saving seed

Divide established clumps in spring. Large pieces can be replanted straight away; pot up small pieces and grow them on until they are well rooted.