City goosefoot (Chenopodium urbicum)

Family: Chenopodiaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Chenopodium urbicum is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from August to September, 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, Leaves

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

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Young leaves - cooked. A spinach substitute. The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - cooked. — Young leaves - cooked.; A spinach substitute.; The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity.; A millet substitute, it can also be ground into a powder and used with cereal flours in making bread etc.

Habitat & North American Range

Waste ground and arable land, especially by manure heaps in Britain. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)