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Fat hen

Chenopodium album

  • Layer 4 · Herbaceous
  • Edible companion

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

A pioneer and cosmopolitan annual herbaceous plant with extremely fast growth. Its leaves and seeds are highly nutritious, frequently being harvested as a wild green. It acts as a dynamic nutrient accumulator and coloniser of disturbed soils.

It is harvested now — July is one of the harvest months.

See which trees the fat hen grows well with

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Needs

  • Water: Medium
  • Light: Full sun
  • Size: Herbaceous annual up to 1.5 m
  • Mature diameter: 0.4 m
  • Soils: Clay, Loam, Sandy
  • Climates: Atlantic coast, Inland / Continental, Hot, dry Mediterranean, Mountain / cold

Calendar

  1. January
  2. February
  3. March — Planting
  4. April — Planting
  5. May — Harvest — Planting
  6. June — Harvest
  7. July — Harvest
  8. August — Harvest
  9. September — Harvest
  10. October
  11. November
  12. December
  • Harvest
  • Planting

Medicinal use: The young leaves are edible and rich in vitamins and minerals, and should be cooked to reduce oxalates.

Where to buy

Related plants

Other species in the same layer or with the same function.

It is harvested now — July is one of the harvest months.

See which trees the fat hen grows well with

We have no trees recorded with this species yet. Start from the tree on your land.

See the central trees

No account needed.

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