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

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



Lambs Quarters grow very quickly with a little TLC. This is the Magenta Spreen after about four weeks.



Regular Lambs Quarters after about six weeks.



Lambs Quarters have an unusual characterstic at night - the leaves tend to fold up - like they are praying.


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