How to Grow Good King Henry in New Zealand

An old European perennial green. Young spring shoots are eaten like asparagus and the leaves used like spinach. Very cold-hardy, so it does especially well in cooler and southern gardens, and is low maintenance once established.

When to plant good king henry in New Zealand

Timing is everything in New Zealand, where the warm north and the cooler south are weeks apart. Sow or plant in these months for your region:

Region	When to sow or plant
Northland	January, February, March, April, August, September, October
Auckland	January, February, March, April, August, September, October
Waikato & BoP	January, February, March, April, August, September, October
Wellington	January, February, March, April, August, September, October
Nelson & Marlborough	January, February, March, April, August, September, October
Canterbury	January, February, March, April, August, September, October
Otago & Southland	January, February, March, April, August, September, October
Central Otago	January, February, March, April, August, September, October

Best good king henry varieties for NZ

Good King Henry — Hardy perennial leaf and shoot vegetable related to spinach and quinoa. (Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds)

How to grow good king henry

Space plants about 40cm apart.
Sow seed around 0.5cm deep.
Position: part shade.
Ready to harvest in roughly 90 days.
Seeds germinate in about 21 days.

Companion planting

Grow good king henry near: Fruit trees.

Pests and problems

Watch for: Slugs, Snails. See our NZ pest and disease guide for organic control.

For a calendar tuned to your exact region, see the New Zealand planting guides or the Good King Henry plant page.

FAQ

When is the best time to plant good king henry in New Zealand?

In the warm north (Auckland, Northland) sow in January, February, March, April, August, September, October. Cooler regions plant a little later. Check the table above for your region.

Where can I buy good king henry seeds or plants in NZ?

Try Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds.