Desert Goosefoot (Chenopodium pratericola)

Family: Chenopodiaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Chenopodium pratericola is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Shoots

Harvest Seasons: Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Fall, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Leaves and young shoots - cooked and eaten like spinach. Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a powder and mixed with wheat or other cereals in making bread etc. — Leaves and young shoots - cooked and eaten like spinach.; It can be ground into a powder and mixed with wheat or other cereals in making bread etc.; The seed is small and fiddly, it should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before it is used in order to remove any saponins.

Habitat & North American Range

Stream banks, disturbed soils and sandy soils. A casual on rubbish tips and near buildings and docks in Britain. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9)