Growing Your Own Lambs Quarters

[steveoregon]

Has anyone here ever tried to grow your own Lambs Quarters? Lambs Quarters is a type of wild spinach. Grows in the wild and is considered a weed by many. I first heard about it from Victoria Boutenko - who uses it in her green smoothies. It grows in the wild where she lives in southern Oregon- and is more nutritious then regular spinach.

Looking for something nutritious to grow in my small back yard, I decided it would be Lambs Quarters. But where to get it? I don't know anyone who has some growing wild - and no nursery is going to carry starter plants.

Undetermined, I set out to look for seeds, and grow them myself. I found some of the regular Lambs Quarter seeds on ebay. I also found the more colorful 'Magenta Spreen' variety of Lambs Quarters on Seeds Of Exchange. HERE (http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/product_details.aspx?item_no=S10742)

The Magenta Spreen seeds I purchased had such a poor yield, that I wound up putting about 20 of the seeds in a sprouting jar to get the ones that would sprout (about one out of ten). Then transplanted them to a starter pod.

Once the starter plants took off, they were transplanted outside. They transplant very easily, with no visible signs of transplant shock. I didn't even have to harden them by setting them outside for a few hours a day first. As you can see, containers work just as well for growing your own. Insects leave these things alone. I repeat, insects leave these things alone, making them low maintenance plants. I only got a few holes in the very bottom leaves that were less healthy then the rest of the plant.

Magenta Spreen starter plant
http://justmyfolder.com/starter.JPG


Lambs Quarters grow very quickly with a little TLC. This is the Magenta Spreen after about four weeks.
http://justmyfolder.com/magenta.JPG


Regular Lambs Quarters after about six weeks.
http://justmyfolder.com/lambsquarter.JPG


Lambs Quarters have an unusual characterstic at night - the leaves tend to fold up - like they are praying.
http://justmyfolder.com/night.JPG

continued. . . .next message
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[steveoregon]

Just discovered you are only allowed to put four pictures in a single post . . .


Finally, these grow up to six feet easily within three months

http://justmyfolder.com/3months.JPG

http://justmyfolder.com/3months_.JPG

As of today, I have started harvesting them for my green smoothies.

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[DebB]

Well ~ ~ WOW!!! I have to laugh, because I think they're beautiful! I've got LQ growing in my garden (came up by itself) and I'm just letting it grow right now without taking anything off of the plant because I want it to get bigger. They grow so fast, don't they?

I'm in love with your magenta LQ - how pretty :)

We're in the desert here in WA. In my yard I'm able to get (wild) dandelion, LQ and a little perslane. At a park in town I saw a lot of plantain. I didn't pick it though because I didn't know if it had been sprayed or not. I may pick the seed pods next time though.

Thanks for sharing your pictures ~ I love gathering the wild edibles. *Ü*

[steveoregon]

Deb,

I too have learned to pay attention to my naturally growing weeds - all of which seem to be edible. Growing naturally in my back yard are:

Pennsylvania Bittercress
Dandelions
Small Flower Willow Herb

I work next to a small lake, and I'm trying to familiarize myself with the natural edibles in the area.

Speaking of the desert, I grew in southern New Mexico.

.

[spicyfull]

I thought they had fur. And looked like a Lamb's ear. I know that Weed, I have been pulling it ALL MY Life......THANKS FOR SHARING.

[T-Bird]

I've been trying to sprout some seeds for a while - so far no luck - the same kind magenta sort.

Will try again after vacay next week.

But have found some sild ones growing around the property.....thanks to your photos, I can call it a def ID.


Now needs to sucker myself into trying them, lol. I'm always squeamish about food of unknown origin like weeds.....worrying about a history of pesticide exposure on the past 50 years on the seeds....

Athough steve meyowitz addresses this and points to their fabulous tenacity on life.....something to consider.....

[DebB]

I looked at one of my LQ plants and I think it's the magenta like you posted. I'm going to try and harvest the seeds. I'm so glad you posted your photos. *Ü*

[Tsurugi_Oni]

Unfortunately many of the popular wild edibles you can't find in stores don't do very well in a garden. Just like how you don't really see dandelions in dense forests or cattails outside of ponds. From my experience with many of the pioneer plant "weeds" you have to catch em in their natural habitat. Your best bet though would be to do some research on the ideal conditions for this plant and then try to see if you can recreate them at your locale.

[T-Bird]

As of today, I have started harvesting them for my green smoothies.


How do they taste???

Did you sample just a plain nibble?

[rawrawks]

had been seeking to identify these in the wld and couldnt.....wanted to juice some.

[Mary Kay]

Tsurugi Oni and all,

I've been doing lambsquarters for quite a few years, but never thought to freeze them until a couple years ago....so do have experience with them.

I do find that they grow in most abundance in just-tilled land, like in a garden. Even moreso than in the wild.

Also, as in most plants (think of spinach bolting), it is best to harvest while the leaves are still young and tender. When it flowers the leaves become longer and tougher. So I would harvest some before they got as tall as the original poster did, and try to harvest before they flower. .

Also, like spinach, is high in oxalates, so combine with a Vit C source to avoid mineral depletion and kidney stones. I think I got a kidney stone from them! I didn't go to the doc though, just drank a bunch of lemon juice and some ACV and in about a month, it went away.

If you're saving them to add to food, do the more tedious leaf-by-leaf-without the stem picking approach. For smoothies, run it between your fingers backwards and strip the large stem. You'll include a lot of little stems, but for smoothies, this is not a prob and is WAY quicker. I keep separate batches in the fridge for smoothies and for other things.

To the original poster, Steveoregon: Thanks for taking all the photos for everyone! I don't know what those other things you mentioned look like...the Pennsylvania Bittercress or the
Small Flower Willow Herb. HINT. HINT!

If anyone wants any seeds, I'll be happy to mail you some. I'm in Ohio in the U.S. Mine looks exacty like the magenta ones, but without the magenta in the center.

They taste a little stronger than spinach, and the leaves are a little more dense. I've also dehydrated them and then their taste becomes much stronger. They say spinach is 90% water. I'm guessing these have less.

Mary Kay

I

[T-Bird]

Thank you for your detailed report, Mary Kay!

[T-Bird]

wanted to let you lamb's quarters lot know about this:

About a month ago I started taking out some sod from my yard, frmed a ring with some retainer wall stone thingies, filled up with about 3 inches of new top soil and planted my "fall bed"

This weekend I noticed 2 tiny lamb's quarter's plants had sprouted. I'll let them keep on with the other greens. I added a few of their leaves to last nights salad....

so yeah - if you want some, break up some dirt and see what happens!

[T-Bird]

I'm trying again with these old seeds of mine for the magenta spreen lambsquarters, put into a pot near a south window. Hoping for a green smoothie or two out of this.....I have about 10-20 seeds remaining - will be spreading that in the garden spring 2010 - if nothing sprouts, I'lll be very sad.

Steveoregon - how's the production going? Not sure what zone you are in....

[steveoregon]

Steveoregon - how's the production going? Not sure what zone you are in....

Lambs Quarters grow very fast. It was a huge success. In the fall when it starts getting cold, the Magenta Spreen stop growing much sooner then the normal Lambs Quarters.

I don't know what zone I'm in either. Whatever it is for Portland Oregon.

.

[michigan roman]

theres a great herb seed company in ontario canada ' richters seeds ' , theyve 1000 herb seeds including wilds . plus all kinds of other things . i used to get their catalogs and theyre like herbals because theyre so info stocked . heres a link to their sites herb seed page :

http://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=home.html&cart_id=6239648.21605

ps - good / interesting thread oregon !!!

[Mary Kay]

WOW! Richters does carry a lot! Thanks for sharing.

Mary Kay

[T-Bird]

Lambs Quarters grow very fast. It was a huge success. In the fall when it starts getting cold, the Magenta Spreen stop growing much sooner then the normal Lambs Quarters.

no sprouting yet!!! Maybe I should freeze the remaining seeds to "reboot" them?

Steve did you save seeds off your plants? Any to share?

[Gab]

Thnx Michigan Roman...
I'm in Mississsauga and have some good places for organic produce but am always looking for places in Ontario to buy other raw stuff and have been looking for a seed place. I've bought some from a fairly large raw food supplier in Ontario but haven't had greatest of luck with the seeds for sprouting.

Gonna check out the site. If you have any more great places in Ontario, please let us know.

;)

[Gab]

Just did a quick visit to the Richters site. You weren't kidding !!! Gonna have a really good look later this aft.

thanx so much again.

gab

[michigan roman]

Thnx Michigan Roman...
I'm in Mississsauga and have some good places for organic produce but am always looking for places in Ontario to buy other raw stuff and have been looking for a seed place. I've bought some from a fairly large raw food supplier in Ontario but haven't had greatest of luck with the seeds for sprouting.

Gonna check out the site. If you have any more great places in Ontario, please let us know.

;)

my neighboors been gardening since the 60's in a big 40 X 150 garden that she totally loves ands grown millions of seeds in , and all this time shes been buying seeds mail order from seed company catalogs . and believe me shes bought seeds from a 100 companies or more . and guess where her favorite seed companies at ;)

http://www.stokeseeds.com/cgi-bin/StokesSeeds.storefront/4b43a68506167e362740cf366ce306b5/Catalog


* theyve a million flower seeds / bulbs , and many vegi seeds . but i dont think sprouting seeds , but can ask . these people are PRO FARMERS that develop seeds FOR FARMERS = theyre dead serious about the seeds they produce and it shows in the quality of the plants their seeds create

[T-Bird]

I've got 62 buck worth of seeds in my cart at rickter....and I'm not suppose to buy any more, lol!

I'll need to think on this......:o

[streetsurfer]

I found richters has yerba santa leaf, so I will likely be ordering from them too. Thanks for the link MR, I ordered their catalog. Next year I won't pull the lambs quarter that springs up around here.

[T-Bird]

68 dollars with the shipping!!!

It's coming out the food budget, folks, so help me!

[Mary Kay]

Woohoo T-Bird, thats a lotta seeds!

Was just thinking about this thread yesterday, when I just didn't feel like going out into the deep snow to get some kale in the garden, and I whipped out my container of frozen lambs quarters to put into the kids' juice in the a.m.

Man, I'm so glad I took the time to freeze those this summer/fall. It is so worth it!

I was just looking at a catalog that came to our house from Gurney's...not organic or anything, but they have walnut trees and almond trees, that they say are good down to zone five. I'm in zone five. Hmmmm.

Mary Kay

[T-Bird]

Woohoo T-Bird, thats a lotta seeds!

And I've got 2-300 worth of seeds at home already....I'm hopeless, probably insane.....I swore I wouldn't get anymore for 2010....

[Mary Kay]

LOL, You're probably not alone. A lot of us have big eyes/high hopes!

Maybe you'd like to divvy up some of the packets?

I'd be interested! Might be more trouble than it's worth though.

Mary Kay

[streetsurfer]

The Chicago Raw Foodist's Seed Bank.

Founder and Principal: T-Bird.

[michigan roman]

woooooooo hoooooooooo tbird ,
now im not the only one with hundreds of dollars worth of seeds :D

[streetsurfer]

The Chicago Raw Foodist's Seed Bank.

Founder and Principal: T-Bird.


woooooooo hoooooooooo tbird ,
now im not the only one with hundreds of dollars worth of seeds :D

Ooops, maybe a reprint is in order....

Opening Soon!

The Tri-State Area Raw Foodist's Seed Bank

Founders and Principals: T-Bird and Michigan Roman

[T-Bird]

A lot of us have big eyes/high hopes!

Well it best work out this year!

[streetsurfer]

Store them well, and by the estimates I've seen, they could last you from 2-5 times their normal shelf life of a few years. Place them in a jar with a dessicant (silica gel, charcoal fines), in the package to keep them seperate from the dessicant, remove the air with a vacuum sealer, and refrigerate or freeze.

[T-Bird]

Maybe you'd like to divvy up some of the packets?

oh - seed exchange is really a great idea, that is, if there are ANY seeds I haven't bought yet - seriously - I've got over 20 types of tomatoes alone, loads of lettuces and other greens, herbs, plus carrots, beets, corn, hot and sweet peppers, cukes, pumpkin, watermelon, cantaloupesit's crazy! I live in the city....

Hopefully - I can at least make even money on food production for these seeds! It's not like I'm a particularly good gardener......yet! Not to mention the 200+ I spent last year on soil for the raised bed....plus the cost of lumber, concrete blocks, hours of back aching labor....sheesh - I might just be ahead buying the produce!

One thing I didn't order that I latter realized I wanted was some "good king henry" seeds, here's what I ordered from rickters if any have interest in exchanging:
1 pkt S5030-001 Rosemary SowNatural(tm)Seeds 2.50/pkt 2.50
1 pkt S8202-001 Carrot, Little Finger SowNatural(tm) 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S8205-001 Carrot, Royal Chantenay SowNatural(t 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S8529-001 Pak-Choi SowNatural(tm)Seeds 1.50/pkt 1.50
1 pkt S6450-001 Thyme, English SowNatural(tm)Seeds 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S5300-001 Savory, Winter SowNatural(tm)Seeds 2.50/pkt 2.50
1 pkt S8340-001 Fennel, Florence SowNatural(tm)Seeds 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S8500-001 Mustard, Mizuna SowNatural(tm)Seeds 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S8501-001 Mustard, Mibuna SowNatural(tm)Seeds 1.25/pkt 1.25
1 pkt S8474-001 Lettuce, Black-Seeded Simpson SowNat 1.25/pkt 1.25
1 pkt S8300-001 Daikon SowNatural(tm)Seeds 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S6310-001 Thistle, Milk SowNatural(tm)Seeds 2.50/pkt 2.50
1 pkt S6455-001 Thyme, French SowNatural(tm)Seeds 2.50/pkt 2.50
1 pkt S8675-001 Sylvetta SowNatural(tm)Seeds 3.50/pkt 3.50
1 pkt S1670-001 Catnip SowNatural(tm)Seeds 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S1340 Beet, Sugar Seeds 2.50/pkt 2.50
1 pkt S8216-001 Corn, True Gold Sweet SowNatural(tm) 2.50/pkt 2.50
1 pkt S8580-001 Rapini SowNatural(tm)Seeds 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S8520 New Zealand Spinach Seeds 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S8420 Jicama Seeds 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S8045-001 Bean, Tendergreen SowNatural(tm)Seed 1.25/pkt 1.25
1 pkt S5050 Rue Seeds 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S1730 Chickweed Seeds 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S1240-001 Balm, Lemon SowNatural(tm)Seeds 2.50/pkt 2.50
1 pkt S1470-001 Borage SowNatural(tm)Seeds 2.50/pkt 2.50
1 pkt S2020 Watercress Seeds 1.25/pkt 1.25
1 pkt S2480 Feverfew Seeds 1.50/pkt 1.50
1 pkt S4733-300 Poppy, Opium Seeds 1.25/pkt 1.25
1 pkt S5345 Schisandra Seeds 2.50/pkt 2.50
1 pkt S7010 Yarrow, Yellow Seeds 1.75/pkt 1.75
1 pkt S8285 Cornsalad Seeds 1.25/pkt 1.25
1 pkt S3780-001 Lovage SowNatural(tm)Seeds 2.50/pkt 2.50

[T-Bird]

oh - also in the market for:

Miners lettuce (aka winter purslane, claytonia)

[T-Bird]

also - I didn't get the lambsquarters as they just had regular and I wanted the magenta spreen.

The regular grows in my yard without assistance!

[T-Bird]

Hey street surfer - couldn't post you a message:confused: so I'll write here.

I do have a packet of stevia seeds, will be experimenting this spring....my notes say harvest after cooler days as makes the leaves sweeter.

any tips on germinating appreciated....was going to try chitting them - not that i've ever done that before, just reading up on things....

[streetsurfer]

I'll see if I need to do something to allow messaging...I accepted the friend request so it should work now.
My reply to this will be in your message center.


Hey street surfer - couldn't post you a message:confused: so I'll write here.

I do have a packet of stevia seeds, will be experimenting this spring....my notes say harvest after cooler days as makes the leaves sweeter.

any tips on germinating appreciated....was going to try chitting them - not that i've ever done that before, just reading up on things....

[RawKnitster]

Those are gorgeous plants. I would love to see them growing on my deck this season.

[T-Bird]

Those are gorgeous plants. I would love to see them growing on my deck this season.

Steve is good photographer.....they really do look pretty weedy.....maybe if the lamb's quarters was in the center with other shrubby greens (mizuna?) surrounding, punctuated by beets to bring out that magenta in the lqs?

also thinking lots of pruning (early harvests!) might make a bushier, more showy plant?

[Mary Kay]

Well, if it means anything, I had some heirloom tomato seeds that I've saved in my freezer from 1997, that I planted last year. That's what? 11 or 12 yrs old!!!

They grew, and I've saved the seeds again.

I had them triple bagged in the freezer. I just sucked out or folded out the air in new baggies.

I even tortured them by leaving them in the original flat too long before planting outside!

So, T-Bird, with all the work you've done, you just may want to save any unused seeds. It's also good to make a note on the seed packet as to how well they did, if you liked them etc.

Takes a lot of organization and time. and no, I've never really found my garden was an inexpensive way to grow food. LOL

Mary Kay

[T-Bird]

lol - words of wisdom marykay!!

I'll maybe give those old seeds one more try - I'll try the chitting method.

I started dill, basil, celery the same time- all of those are up.

Interestingly, I had a spinach potted out doors, took it in about a month ago....I see a lambsquarter by the edge of the pot - what a riot, huh? not a magenta, of course, just the old "garden variety" type weed!

very cool on your frozen seeds. I need to be more careful with mine, for sure, now I've got about 3-4 hundred invested....:eek:

[T-Bird]

Success!

I got 4 of the lambs quarters germinated in a wet coffee filter in a baggie. Put them into soil today - still have about 15 ungerminated seeds in the baggie.

Lets see if these take off!

[steveoregon]

Lets see if these take off!

I think you will find these are pretty low maintenance - and grow easily.

Look forward to your pictures.


.

[T-Bird]

I haven't done pictures anywhere - don't know how to do them:(

I should learn though!

[freelive]

I am thinking about being strong and just use last years seeds. Except fennel since I didn't love it yet last year. But now I am tempted by those magenta lambsquarters. For some reason my community garden plot never produced any lambsquarters in two years that I have it. I do have some chickweeds, that grow in my blueberry pot though, and I always leave a bit of them, so more can grow.

[Mary Kay]

Hmmm, I don't know what chickweeds are....will have to look them up!

Mary Kay

[freelive]

They are very common, so when you see a picture, you will remember them.

[T-Bird]

Ther's a sprout in the lq pot! woot woot!

[steveoregon]

I didn't have to grow starter plants this year. The Magenta Spreen variety re-seeded on their own. In fact, so many started growing in the same pot as last year, I had to pull several, just to give room for the healthiest ones. The other Lambs Quarters (2nd photo), also started growing in the ground where I had them planted last year.

http://photos.imageevent.com/gophotos/forumposts/LambsQuarters_1.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/gophotos/forumposts/LambsQuarters2.JPG


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