15 Forgotten Vegetables Medieval Farmers Grew That NEED to Come Back

YouTube ^ | March 25, 2025 | Medieval Times Discovered

[SunkenCiv]

Did you know medieval farmers cultivated a variety of unique and nutritious vegetables that have almost disappeared from modern diets? From skirret to good King Henry, these forgotten crops were once essential for survival and they deserve a comeback!

In this video, we explore 15 incredible medieval vegetables, their health benefits, and why they should return to our gardens and plates today. Whether you're a history buff, gardener, or food lover, you won’t want to miss these lost gems of the past! 

15 Forgotten Vegetables Medieval Farmers Grew That NEED to Come Back | 22:55 
Medieval Times Discovered | 22.3K subscribers | 276,780 views | March 25, 2025

[SunkenCiv]

Are you sure they’re still there? ;^)

[gleeaikin]

I don’t know if I found this video on 15 forgotten Mideaval vegetables from a SunkenCiv site or a Diana in Wisconsin site. At any rate I wonder if one of you has a catalog source for some of the vegetables listed? I have just had two terraces constructed in my downhill back yard and would love to establish several of them in spaces I will be developing in my new landscape. I already have a fig tree I planted, and a white mulberry that planted itself. Last year it had one branch with fruit, I hope more this year.

[kiryandil]

Dang! ;-)

[SunkenCiv]

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[redinIllinois]

Speaking of super foods, sweet potato leaves are more nutritious than spinach, instead of being poison like regular potato leaves !

They are often cooked in Oriental dishes!!

[SunkenCiv]

There are some links in the topic, gotta scroll because, wow, thanks again all for making this an unexpected success.

I listed a bunch of links right here:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4307542/posts?page=112#112

I ordered two or three of these, will probably just look for tansy at the nurseries. Also tracked down some old favorites, when you see the links you may be able to guess one or two. :^)

[Chicory]

Wow, thanks! Amazing work!

[Chicory]

This made me wish I still had a garden! Fun video!

[SunkenCiv]

I’d like to set up a raised bed, or rather, have one set up. :^) Easier to plant, tend, weed, and water that way.

[thecodont]

Bookmarked.

[timestax]

bttt

[clearcarbon]

"The wife loves rutabagas for Christmas, making more than anyone would eat."

Back in the days that I used to bake holiday turkeys, I'd stuff the turkey with vegetables. Vegetables that required a long cooking time worked best. The carrots and yams were very good, but I thought the rutabaga was excellent.

[gleeaikin]

My father bought some land at the edge of the Jersey marshes near Atlantic City. There were several fruit bearing native persimmon trees on the property. I tried some when color brightened in the fall but they were very astringent. One day my son was crawling around under a tree and picked up an overripe one that had fallen and was eating it. I then tried an overripe one and it was tasty. There are larger Asian ones sold in grocery stores. I wish I could grow them at my beach property with the Fig tree.

[Windcatcher]

I ***love*** grilled eggplant. Slice it super-thin, give it a dash of olive oil, and grill it. Amazing.

[SunkenCiv]

:^) By way of analogy, I’ve only enjoyed grapefruit picked off the tree. :^)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Here’s the list of veggies talked about in the video. The easiest to find these days would be the Salsify, Chickweed (just look in the lawn or cracks in the sidewalk), Welsh Onions (Walking Onions), Lovage, Tansy and Turnips.

Skirret
Alexanders
Good King Henry
Salsify
Medlar
Chickweed
Scorzonera
Welsh Onions
Fat Hen
Lovage
Corn Salad
Tansy
Sea Kale
Woad
Turnips

I don’t have any links for you, but a web search will lead you to seed/plant suppliers, I’m sure! :)

[gleeaikin]

Thanks for links

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure.

[Chicory]

Raised bed gardening is nice, very clear-cut! If you have rhyzomal (sp?) Grass, protect your garden from it growing through!

[SunkenCiv]

Update, some seeds have come in; Corn Salad, Skirrret, and Welsh Onion. Some other curious stuff, but not from the list of 15. More stuff on the way, but not from the list. I'll have to do some more online searching.

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