Vegetable · Succulent green
Purslane
Portulaca oleraceaA low-growing, succulent salad green that thrives on baking sun and lean, dry soil where most greens would wilt. Left alone it spreads into a dense, weed-suppressing mat and keeps producing tender new shoots all summer. The one rule: sow shallow and keep the surface just damp — the tiny seed needs light to germinate.
Sow depth
Surface sown (needs light)
Spacing
6 in · rows 12 in
Sun
Full sun
Germination
7–10 days
Time to harvest
40–60 days
Difficulty
Easy
When to sow purslane
- Sow from about 2 weeks after your last expected frost until about 8 weeks before the first expected autumn frost.
Sow on the surface — press seed into moist soil but leave it uncovered.Wait until the soil is reliably warm; purslane sulks and rots in cold, wet ground.Sow a fresh patch every few weeks through summer for a continuous supply.
Water lightly until established — once growing, purslane shrugs off drought and heat.Weed around young seedlings; established plants soon smother competition themselves.Pinch growing tips to keep plants bushy and encourage more tender new shoots.
Snip stems to within a couple of centimeters of the base; new growth follows fast.Pick young leaves and stem tips for the mildest, most tender flavor.Harvest regularly through summer — plants left too long turn woody and set seed.
Companion plants
Purslane’s low, spreading mat shades bare soil around taller crops like sweetcorn and peppers, helping keep the ground beneath them cool and moist.
Watch out for
Aphids — Cluster on tender new shoots in warm weather. Rinse off with a strong water jet or use insecticidal soap.Slugs — Nibble low-growing leaves in damp conditions. Keep beds tidy and hand-pick at dusk.