Huauzontle - Aztec Broccoli

[marchogaeth]

Does this suffer from any particular bugs? (Please don't tell me even the slugs won't eat it! I'm going to find out for myself.)

[Doive]

Well mine suffers from not growing. Been sitting in pots on the kitchen table in nice warm sunny conditions, and hasn't changed size in three months. Allegedly it's a weed in it's native land, but doesn't want to do anything for me.

[marchogaeth]

Well mine suffers from not growing. Been sitting in pots on the kitchen table in nice warm sunny conditions, and hasn't changed size in three months. Allegedly it's a weed in it's native land, but doesn't want to do anything for me.

Mine popped up quickly, hung around a bit until I thinned them and are now growing a storm. They are in my tunnel which is more light than warm. The germination must have been close to 100% as well. Maybe try them somewhere else?

[muddled]

I've just sown some of this so was wondering, how did you get on?

I s'pose what I'm really asking is chicken food or delicious broccoli substitute?

[marchogaeth]

I grow a few plants every year. The plants are impressive and the taste is up there with all home grown green veg. I have to say we don't eat lots because we like all the other stuff too. What I really like about it is that the plant produces a huge number of seeds which stay on the plant and are enjoyed by the birds all winter.

[muddled]

Oh thank you!
That's very encouraging!

Not least because my chickens eat me out of house and home during the winter. I feed them lots of greens and grains then because they don't need layers if they're not laying. But its really good to hear that it tastes good for humans too rather than just being one of those novelties we never grow a second time.

[Scarlet]

I have a couple rows of chard for my chickens Muddled.

[muddled]

Me too!
Plus spinach (which I don't eat)
And kale...and this year I'm growing perenial kale for them as well.

But I'm interested in growing more seeds/grain type things for them so this year I'm growing amaranth (the grain one) and this Aztec stuff, both from realseeds.

[Scarlet]

Have you tried Mexican tree spinach? They grow huge and are brilliant chicken feed. I love it too in salad, gorgeous colour

[muddled]

ooh no...I'm off for a gurgle...be right back!

[muddled]

oooer...velly interesting..

Do you grow it to its full height for seeds or as a cut and come again?
And is the oxalic acid plroblematic?
I only let the chooks have spinach twice a week because I read the oxalic acid was as bad for them as for us (well, me actually...its bad for arthritis)

[Scarlet]

I let them seed for the winter, wild birds love them, it's a picture to see all the little birds hanging on the tops...but they self seed like weeds, easy to pull out though. I don't have arthritis so I'm not sure if it's a problem, I only use a few leaves in my salad although I have salad for lunch every day it's mixed in with other leaves. Same for the chickens really, mix it up with kale and chard. You've made me wonder now though. I didn't save any seed last year but if I can find some I could send you a couple to try? I'll have a look tomorrow.

[muddled]

Yes please Scarlet, that would be lovely!

If you manage to find some I'll put them where the cardboard and woodchips are so that if they self seed too too much I can easily thin them down...they look very pretty in the pictures!

[muddled]

Here is a good article on oxalic acid and chickens (well, ducks mainly...but chickens too)

Fresh Eggs Daily

Rather worryingly, as I was looking for this article, I came across another that said all plants from the 'fat hen' family are bad for hens (odd, given the name) and the Aztec broccoli is part of that family, but that was only one source so I'll check further.

[AkionTotocha]

Is Udo ng for chooks? Just thinking with how big it gets, you can nibble the tips and they can chow down on the bigger leaves?