Purslane Landrace

Portulaca oleracea var oleracea
Also known as common purslane, green purslane, little hogweed, pursley

$5.00

In stock

Description

Purslane is a sunny companion who loves hot weather, green friends and a good time. Like other succulents, purslane does extremely well in hot summer gardens and is really good at holding moisture in his leaves and stalks.

That moisture is so hydrating on a hot day, as any gardener whose snacked on his smooth, juicy leaves or stalks can attest. All it takes is a bite or two and I go from feeling hot and parched to renewed, hydrated and energetic… it’s incredible!

Raw, whether as a snack or in salads, purslane is a delight. Purslane imparts a crisp crunch with a tart flavor. It’s a little like eating a mildly sour cucumber. That tartness is welcome on a hot summers day, and indeed purslane is a very cooling herb.

Purslane is also a delicacy when cooked. Purslane’s tartness, while still there, is more subtle after cooking. When fully cooked, purslane becomes extremely soft and delicate and offers a delicious broth to the meal. Purslane is very versatile and lends his greens to sautes, eggs, casseroles, soups, stews and as a side green in his own right. Sometimes we just add some garlic and salt or soy sauce and the result is delicious over rice.

Purslane is food as medicine and boasts the highest levels omega 3 fatty acid found in plants, contains mucilage that aids in digestion, includes many vitamins and minerals including high amounts of vitamin C and E.

I love gardening with purslane because he is a gentle companion. As a succulent he loves full sun but also thrives in part shade next to other veggies and herbs, at the feet of corn or tomatoes and with potted plants that are large enough so as not to be bothered.

With thousands of seeds produced per plant, purslane volunteers readily in many gardens. I am always amazed by seeds that know exactly when to germinate and purslane is an expert at joining the garden party when things really heat up. Sure enough, when cooler weather herbs have gone to seed and are dying back in the first hot weeks of summer, purslane takes the cue and begins a new lifecycle.

It seems purslane loves to come up in tilled soil, where cold compost has been spread, in well tended raised beds and nursery pots. Even still I harvest and broadcast seed every year, to show purslane that I love gardening with him and to invite him into new spaces. Since 2018 we have been wild tending this purslane landrace and encourage volunteers to grow where they want, as well as scattering and broadcasting purslane seed far and wide in our most prime summer garden spaces.

Harvest is a breeze and with as much volunteer plants as we have, it’s sometimes a challenge to keep up with the harvest. Once we’ve finished eating a pot of purslane, the plants have made abundant new growth. But it’s just as well because we enjoy freezing purslane greens for eating out of season and through the winter. Purslane really has become one of our favorite greens to eat and so far we have not tired of purslane’s flavor or texture in our meals.

We are so excited and honored to share these precious purslane seeds with you!

Learn more about purslane as food, beauty, nourishment and gardening with purslane in our blog post: Purslane: A Particularly Welcome, Luscious Summer Weed

Details

Lifecycle: Annual (Perennial in zones 10-12)
Lifespan: One season
Hardiness zones: 3-12 (USDA)
Habitats: Disturbed soils, fields, gardens and farms around the world.
Plant size: 2 ft wide x 1 ft tall
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Sandy or loamy soils, rich fertility preferred
Water: Moist soils preferred, some drought tolerance
Seeds per packet: 150+ seeds

Seed Starting

Purslane seeds are light dependent germinators and should be surface sown on a well prepared bed or potting soil. Tamp the soil lightly before sowing seeds so that it is not fluffy, but also not compact. Soil that covers the seeds can prevent germination. Do not allow the seeds to dry out before germinating.

Direct sow in a well prepared garden bed, or start in spring in a greenhouse or cold frame and transplant outside in the summer.

Purslane germinates in the summer and requires warm soil temperatures, seeds will lie dormant until surface soil has warmed up enough, and usually germinate in early summer.

Cultivation

Purslane is easy to cultivate and requires little care other than weeding as required. With little competition purslane will sprawl out along the ground. With close neighbors, it will grow prostrate. So it is adaptable to companion planting.

Purslane grows really well in our clay soils but especially prefers our well cultivated garden soil, loamy raised beds and fluffy potting soil.

Purslane is also tolerant of saline or salty soils and is a good candidate for gardens near the ocean as well as soils that have accumulated salt due to chemical fertilizers, being unsustainably farmed, or low annual rainfall.

Harvest

Harvest succulent stalks and leaves with a sharp knife, scissors or simply by snapping the stem. Purslane will continue regrowing and you can continue harvesting all the way until frost kills the plants.

Propagation

Purslane is grown by seed.

Seed Saving

Purslane seeds are tiny, like a fine black sand. Each flower gives way to tiny cup holding dozens of seeds and once the cup opens those seeds easily scatter. But not to worry, each plant can easily make tens of thousands of seeds in the right conditions. Cut stalks that have flowered and whose seed capsules are developing, then spread out the talks on a tarp or a flat container with no holes. After several days shake the stalks to thresh seeds from their “cups” and then compost the stalks. Screen the tiny seeds from leaves and larger debris with a fine mess screen or sieve and winnow if cleaner seeds are desired.

Additional information

Weight0.007 lbs
Dimensions4.5 × 3.25 × .05 in

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