Blitum bonus-henricus
DESCRIPTION
This is a perennial cooking green that grows like a weed and reseeds easily. It produces abundant deep green, nutrient rich, leaves very early in the spring.
PROVENANCE
This is Oshkosh-grown seed and has been grown here annually since 2014. Julia Chybowski is currently the local Seed Steward.
GROWING RECOMMENDATIONS
Direct sow anytime, but early in the spring would be the best time to get both leaves and seeds in the same year.
SEED SAVING
By mid-summer, the plants will have started producing flower stalks and then seeds. They will drop and reseed themselves unless harvested.
CULINARY USE
Since the leaves have a sandy texture, they are not the best as salad greens but the texture disappears after washing and cooking. Leaves can be used as a cooked spinach or chard.
PRESERVING THE HARVEST
Blanch and freeze leaves and tender stems.