Common Purslane produces little plants with round, fleshy, green leaves on short fleshy stems. The flavour is slightly sour and salty. Cook shortly and use them in soups, mashed potato stews or used them like spinach. Annual. Height: 10 - 15 cm.
Outdoor sowing: middle of may - middle of august
Outdoor sowing under glass: middle of april - end of august
Germination: 3 - 7 days
Germination temp.: 18 - 22°C
Sowing depth: shallow
Plant distance: 12 cm
Sowing distance between rows: 15 cm
Plant position: sunny and sheltered
Days till harvest: 35 - 45 days
You can sow purslane outdoors from the middle of may till the middle of august. It's possible to sow outdoors under glass from the middle of april till the end of august. You've to sow in already warmed up and moist soil, because purslane has no tolerance against cold soil.
The ideal germinationtemp. is between 18 - 22°C. The germination lasts on average 3 - 7 days, depending on the outdoor- and soil temperature. The seeds are very tiny and hard to disperse. Usually it's mixed in with dry and fine sand to make it easier to sown very thinly. This is necessary to prevent problems with fungal diseases like Botrytis.
Sow shallow in loosened, moist and free draining soil on a very sunny and sheltered plot. Don't cover the seeds with soil, because purslane is a light germinator. Cover the seeds with some moist jute bags or perforated plastic to protect them. Remove the jute bags or plastic when the seeds are germinating. This is noticeable by a reddish tinge under the bags or plastic. When You don't remove the cover, the plants will grow long and slouching.
Sow in rows approx. 15 cm apart. Sow the seeds at a distance of 12 cm apart. You can also broadcast the seeds, but make sure that the seedlings aren't to close together. Broadcast approx. 5 grams per square meter. Thin the seedlings to 12 cm apart, when they're to close together.
Purslane is a succulant and it doesn't need much water. Keep the soil moist, but be careful not to overwater them even during dry spells. Purslane grows very fast You can harvest them approx. 5 till 6 weeks after sowing. The plants are then approx. 12 - 15 cm in height. Cut the plants above the soil, but leave a bit of the stem, the roots and some of the leaves on the plants. This way the plants can regrow and You can harvest a small amount approx. 4 weeks later.
Purslane doesn't keep well, so it's best to eat them the same day. Sow small amounts of seeds every 4 weeks till the middle of august to extent the harvesting period. Purslane bolts when the temperature reaches 10 °C or lower. It dies down when the first frosts arrive.
