Good King Henry, a Perennial Food Crop: Tips for Cultivation

Good King Henry is a perennial veggie grown for its shoots, young leaves, flower buds, and flowers. It is a traditional element in many permaculture polycultures. However, this plant is notoriously difficult to start from seed. I can't find anywhere to source divisions, so I'm going to give it a try from seed this year.

Here are my strategies for starting GKH, AND for successfully growing it on the very edge of its growing zone.

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[blackwolf]

Im in 5B in Canada. Just ordered my seeds this morning. Really excited to grow this plant.

[maryhoffman]

I've ordered Good King Henry plants from Richters Herbs online (after failing with trying to grow them from seed). They ship their plants very carefully - definitely recommend them. Once I got my plants established in a mostly shady, moist area they lightly self-seeded. I didn't feel that it was weedy; in my garden there were just a few extra baby plants the following spring. Can't wait to see how your seed germination goes - I hope it works!

[mo]

Really good video. When I first tried to grow Good King Henry I failed several times. Then I sowed some seed in a plastic tub with some potting soil, stuck it under a deck and promptly forgot about it. A long while later I rediscovered it growing densely, a few inches high. I planted it out and now, a decade later it is everywhere, spreading far beyond the planned area. I can see why some people consider it a weed - but for us it works. We love it. SO do the sheep and goats. They eat it with enthusiasm. The poultry however, does not care for GKH. Mature plants dig and transplants really well here in 7A - but they do develop a huge root.

[havenpatorland]

I Just sowed the seeds in a shallow pot, watered it well and stuck it in the fridge a week. Then I put them outside, about two weeks before my last frost. I got a very nice amount of plants, about twice as many as expected.

[WildernessTamed]

Hi, I live in north east England where we get this wonderful plant growing naturally in a few localised pockets. One great spot is in Teesdale, County Durham. A valley famous for its ancient glacial plant assemblage. The best spot I've found them is against a drystone wall facing east. They are obviously tolerant of shallow dry soils in this spot and growing against a warm wall in full sun. But Teesdale also gets colder winters than the rest of the area due to its altitude. I'm really keen to get some plants or seeds and give them a go. Thanks for the video.

[jordang]

I'm really enjoying this perennial crops series!

[ingercesar]

In my Swedish foodforest i love Good King Henry, the flowerbuds are best, befor eating pore hot water over them and fry them with garlic and herbs. We never eat any part raw becuse of saponin although it is probebly ok when they are yong. The leaf I uses like spinach but they have a little bitter tast så best whit other foodforest greens ( bettet in shade). I think the seed is best sowd fresh and need some frezzing to grow.
Good luck!
Inger

[TheRoadprincess]

I have no idea if I will like it or not. I just love trying new things! Thank you so much!

[tgardenchicken]

Thank you so much for all of your videos. I am inspired to try more options and methods as I continue to watch. Learning more all the time and loving it. BTW I love hearing the chickens when you are outside (miss my girls) and enjoy hearing the life around you.

[lulabell]

I am growing GKH up in zone 8b in White Rock, BC. I got a division two years ago along with salad burnet. The salad burnet did not survive the first frost but the GKH is on its second spring here and has shoots up. I have mine in a raised bed with sorrel, walking onion, and Portuguese walking stick kale, and I interplant some annual veggies and flowers every year. It is partially shaded by the taller walking stick kale and has not shown signs of heat damage even in the heat waves last summer.

[terachuu]

Love perenial greens, less hassle to maintain😊. Suits my very small garden😍. I 'd love to see another perenial veggies get more coverage. Cannot find these seeds in local shop though.

[julie-annepineau]

Have you tried Edible Acres for Good King Henry starts? I know they propagate them thru out the nursery.

[anne-marietuikka]

Such interesting info on Good King Henry. My seed package only recommends sowing directly outdoors in the early spring. Maybe because springs are so cold in Finland ☺️

[paintedtongue]

I grew GKH very successfully by Winter Sowing it. It has come back this year very nicely.

[robertgulfshores]

Thanks again for another helpful video! I just discovered your channel, subscribed.

[gingerlily]

I’d love to hear an update on your results.

[aaron]

Hi. Had 100 seeds and have 22 germinated. Hopefully they'll grow on and I can put them in the ground later. Nottingham, UK.

[HeyYouSA]

I grew from seed in Zone 5b by winter sowing in milk jugs. Set out in early February.

[MsAusarian]

I wish that I could teleport plant starts to you.
I have like 40+ perennial veg. And I have heard you mention a few that are stubborn.

[janxious]

I have some planted in the shadow of my house on the north side in 6a and it’s slowly getting bigger every year. Very tasty. It doesn’t have a lot of competition so it is slowly running into the hostas and ferns around it. I think the lack of light keeps it much lower to ground and slow growing.