Wild Spinach!
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Wild Spinach
One of my new favorite things to grow is lamb’s quarter, also called wild spinach. It is often seen as a wild green in gardens or fields, and easy to spot once you learn its unique characteristics. This is a hidden gem that rivals spinach in both nutrition and versatility. Sometimes known as goosefoot, for its leaf’s appearance, this plant offers an earthy flavor and a boost of health benefits. A gardener might find it popping up uninvited, only to discover it is a free, edible resource. Dr. Aaron Workman, a patient favorite at one of the highest rated car accident medical care providers in Lexington, dives into how lamb’s quarter stacks up nutritionally against spinach and why it is so easy to grow.
- Nutritional Comparison
Lamb’s quarter edges out spinach in several areas. A cup of raw lamb’s quarter delivers over 70% of the daily value for vitamin A and almost 100% for vitamin C, compared to spinach’s 56% and 28%. It gives more protein at around 4 grams per cup versus spinach’s 2.9 grams. It has three times more calcium. Both are rich in iron. While spinach is a better source of folate, lamb’s quarter has less oxalic acid. Both are great with antioxidants.
- Taste and Use
Lamb’s quarter has a mild flavor that is not as sweet as a lettuce, but just a little more earthy tasting than spinach. I have been using it on sandwiches, soups, salads, burgers, and eggs. The flavor really mixes well without overpowering the main dish. It shrinks like spinach when wilted or cooked, but it does not shrink as much as spinach. Its leaves have a slight texture, versus spinach’s softer consistency.
- Ease of Growing
Lamb’s quarter thrives with minimal effort, typically growing wild in disturbed soils like gardens, roadsides, or compost piles. At first, I could not locate any around my property, but after growing my own from seed, I have seen it in several areas both shade and sunny. Once established it self-seeds, producing up to 75,000 seeds per plant. This makes it a great alternative to other invasive weeds around your home.
- Harvest
I like to pick the top few inches off new growth to keep it splitting and growing all season. I have wild plants I have found that are a great source to harvest from, and I also have wild spinach planted in pots. The ones in pots tend to go to seed quicker than the ones out in the ground, so having them planted in the earth is advantageous. Its ability to thrive in the wild makes it a free alternative to greens for those willing to learn about it.
Lamb’s quarter carries an abundance of nutrition among the greens, edging out spinach in protein, calcium, and vitamins A and C, with less oxalic acid for better nutrient uptake. It is easy to grow, little maintenance, easy to harvest, and will propagate itself coming back the following year. You can put it in a variety of salads and dishes without it overtaking your flavor. This makes a great addition to your landscape that will reward you all year long.
— This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.
