Lambsquarters in Georgia: A Weed You Can Eat (If You Want)

Chenopodium album: Ubiquitous, Edible, and Persistent

Lambsquarters grows enthusiastically across Georgia—so much so that one gardener's father joked about becoming a millionaire selling seeds from his farm. It's a nutritious leafy green (related to quinoa and spinach) but also a fierce competitor in vegetable gardens.

Growing/Managing It

• Planting: Spring direct sow; seeds widely available online
• Harvest: Young leaves and tips raw or cooked
• Control: Hand-pulling is most effective; herbicides work poorly
• Seed bank: Persists for years—prevent seed set

Nutritional Note

High in vitamins A, C, calcium, and iron. But also high in oxalates—moderate consumption if prone to kidney stones.