is an hardy perennial, a naturalised wild-flower it has been cultivated for centuries. It is easy to grow plant any site in any soil and a great addition to your herb or kitchen garden growing to 2ft (60cm) in time. Give this a go from seed - its well worth it and being a perennial it will give you years of pleasure.
The arrow-shaped leaves can be cooked and eaten like spinach or added raw to salads it is slightly more bitter in taste than traditional spinach but some prefer it. The young shoots can also be blanched and used like asparagus. 
Sow direct in the Spring Summer in 1cm drills 45cm apart, cover lightly. Keep weed free and  moist at all times, thin to 60cm. sow insitu or grow in pots. It is best to let the plant establish in the first year harvest only a few leaves if you can't wait!   In the second year, the plant can be harvested and all foliage should be cut back in Autumn and a mulch applied.  From second year onwards you can harvest the shoots which can be cooked and eaten like asparagus and in mid summer the leaves can be harvested eaten raw in salads when young and wilted down like spinach later in the summer.