How to grow Good King Henry in Australia

Where to plant

Grow Good King Henry in fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. It thrives in cool weather, about 10 to 21°C, and tolerates very low temperatures. In cool areas it can have full sun; in warmer regions give it part shade, as warm weather and long days make it flower and go to seed. It lives for several years if left undisturbed, so plant it at the edge of the vegetable garden or in a perennial bed.

In cold winters it dies back to the ground and regrows in spring. In mild winters it can keep growing.

• Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart: the best regions, where it thrives in the cold. Sow or plant from February to September in Melbourne and Canberra; in Hobart from March to April or September to November.
• Sydney, Adelaide and Perth: grow it in part shade and plant from March to August.
• South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: plant from March to August in part shade and treat it as a cool-season crop, as summer heat makes it bolt.
• North Queensland and Darwin: our calendar marks these as unsuitable, as it is a cool-climate perennial.

How to plant

1. Dig aged compost into the bed before planting.
2. Chill the seed first. Mix it with a little damp sand or seed raising mix in a sealed bag and keep it in the fridge for about 8 to 10 weeks. Without this cold spell germination is poor.
3. Sow about 6 mm deep, in punnets or direct, and keep the soil cool and moist. Germination is slow and can take many weeks.
4. Thin or transplant young plants to about 30 to 45 cm apart. Handle seedlings gently, as they have a single taproot and dislike disturbance.
5. If you can get a division or young plant from another gardener, it is a much quicker start.

Watering and feeding

Keep the soil evenly moist through the growing season, especially in dry spells, which keeps the leaves tender and slows bolting. Mulch with straw or chopped leaves, which also keeps soil from splashing onto the leaves.

Top-dress with compost each year, and give a dilute liquid feed now and then while the plants are growing strongly.

Pruning and care through the year

• Let new plants settle in for their first season and pick only lightly.
• Pinch out flower spikes to keep the plant making leaves, unless you want seed.
• In cold areas, cut back the old growth in late autumn and mulch the crowns; they regrow in spring.
• Established clumps can be divided in spring to make new plants.

Harvesting

In spring, cut young shoots just below the soil once they reach about 12 cm tall and cook them like asparagus. Through the season, pick young leaves from the outside of the plant, leaving the centre to keep growing. Young leaves are milder and contain less oxalic acid than older ones. The small flower buds can also be steamed like broccoli.

Use the leaves fresh, as they wilt quickly. They keep for a day or two in a bag in the fridge.

Growing in pots

Good King Henry grows in a pot at least 30 cm deep with rich potting mix, in part shade. Keep the mix evenly moist and feed lightly through the growing season.

Using it

Cook the leaves like spinach, or add them to soups and stews. Young leaves can be eaten raw in small amounts, but cooking reduces the oxalic acid they contain, as with spinach. Steam young shoots like asparagus. The seeds contain saponins and need soaking and rinsing well before use, so most home gardeners eat only the leaves and shoots.