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Purslane Portulaca oleracea

How to sow purslane: Direct seed cuttings or seeds outdoors on surface of soil after last frost

Sun requirement for purslane: Plant in Full Sun

Purslane has been planted 2 times by Growstuff members.

Purslane is a fast-growing succulent herb that is native to Asia but has since naturalized throughout the world. The plant has red to purple stems that radiate from a central taproot, fleshy green leaves, and yellow flowers. The stems are somewhat upright, but spread to create a mat of foliage. Leaves and stems have a sweet, acid-like flavor similar to spinach and are high in omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamins A, C, and B, iron, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Harvest plants before they flower and add to salads, sandwiches, sauté, or make into pesto. Purslane can become VERY invasive because it spreads through stem pieces and a single plant can produce 240,000 seeds that are viable for 5-40 years. Container growing is strongly recommended to limit the spread of stem cuttings. Be sure to harvest plants before they flower and set seed.

photo of crop

Predictions

Perennial

living more than two years

Height

10cm

Spread

60cm

Row Spacing

5cm

Photos

Purslane crops

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Sunniness

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Planted from

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Crop Map

Only plantings by members who have set their locations are shown on this map.

What people are saying about purslane

Optimism is... planting butternuts at Christmas

by Skud,

Like I said in my last post, everything has been late and disorganised this spring. However, I'm trying to get some stuff planted *juuuusssssttttt* under the wire for December, and hopefully they'll have time to grow before things cool down in the new year. Last year I was pretty amazed how lon...

butternut squash sunflowers nasturtia arugula purslane nettles
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Seeds!

by oakandsage,

Yay, seeds arrived. Gonna go on a planting binge tomorrow. Especially since tomorrow is tomato day! Got: Golden [purslane](crop) [Watercress](crop) Yard long [bean](crop) Blackeye [pea](crop) Charentais [melon](crop) [Cantaloupe](crop) (Minnesota Midget) Shelling pea (I ran out) I've...

purslane watercress beans peas melons cantaloupes tomatoes cauliflowers
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How to grow purslane

Scientific names

Portulaca oleracea

Alternate names

common purslane
verdolaga
pigweed
little hogweed
red root
pursley
moss rose

Purslane harvests

Nobody has harvested this crop yet.

Find purslane seeds

There are no seeds available to trade on Growstuff right now.