Lately there is a lot of talk about purslane and its properties, but many people do not know what this plant is, where it comes from and how we can benefit from its presence in the orchard, garden or in a pot.
At La Huertina we like to bring new ideas, and this plant is a good way to vary vegetables and their culinary possibilities.
Contents
what is purslane
Purslane is how the plant is known portulaca oleracea, belonging to the family of Portulacaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, although it is present in many parts of the world today.
At present, this plant, although sometimes considered a weed because it is a weedy and fast-spreading plant, is intentionally planted for culinary use and thanks to its enormous nutritional properties, it is why there is more and more interest and more and more demand.
It is important to know that although it can be planted on the terrace, the ideal is to do it in a pot to prevent it from becoming invasive.
Purslane: the most important treatment
Purslane care is very similar to that of succulents.
Irrigation
Watering purslane varies depending on the time of year, but while in winter it may be every 10 or 15 days, or every two weeks, in summer it should be every 3 or 4 days, or about twice a week.
Sun
It is a plant that needs full sun, and the ideal temperatures are those between 15 and 25 degrees. Therefore, it does not withstand frost well.
Usually I
Purslane is not a plant that needs soil that is particularly rich in nutrients or organic matter, but it should be well-drained soil that is more sandy than clay.
harmful
There aren’t many pests that affect purslane plants, but you need to take care of the drainage to avoid fungus. Also, aphids, although not the most common, could affect if there is a plant nearby that is suffering from this pest. We recommend that, in case you suffer from this pest, you consult the article on the home remedies for aphids more efficient.
Although not the most common, slugs and snails could also eat the leaves of the plant. We also have an article on how to remove snails and slugs from the garden in different ways or with various very effective techniques.
Caring for potted purslane
The maintenance of potted purslane is more or less the same as in the ground, except that in pots you need better control of the soil. When you see it’s dry, it’s time to water, as is the case with succulents.
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Also in a pot it is important that it drains well. There are those who advise not to place the typical saucer below, but if the pot is large enough and is made of clay, the saucer to hold water will not affect the plant at all, and less negatively.
Maintenance of purslane in winter
Purslane is sensitive to winters. If we have it in a pot, it is important to protect it from the cold. Watering should be much more sporadic, every 15 days in the coldest times of winter. In addition, it is recommended to always water in the morning because the cold of the night could freeze the water and damage or even kill the roots.
What is garden purslane?
Garden purslane is not the plant we are talking about, but its closest relative, the Portulaca grandiflora, also known as Ornamental Portulaca or Silk Flower. This variety does not generally have the edible use which is given to the Portulaca oleraceabut is mainly grown in gardens as an ornamental plant, for its huge, colorful flowers.
Properties of Purslane
The properties of purslane are distinguished by their truly unusual character for a plant of this type. It contains vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, B complex vitamins such as B1, B2, B3, B6 and B9 (folic acid). Minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium and zinc. Electrolytes like sodium and potassium and fatty acids like omega-3s.
Above all, the enormous amounts of vitamins A and C stand out, as well as iron and for being the plant with the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
Purslane: seeds
Purslane seeds can be used to grow our own plants, but where do you find purslane seeds? Nowadays it is very easy to find them in the markets or in the stores of edible or ornamental plants, but they can also be obtained from the same plant.
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After the flowering season, we can easily extract the seeds. They usually have many seeds and are very small, and this is the reason for their easy expansion.
With seeds, just plant them and wait for some to sprout. I advise to plant several seeds for each pot, so that the process is more efficient. It can also be planted directly in the ground, we can already see that it is not difficult for it to thrive.
cuttings
A simple way to propagate our purslane crops is to cut. We can help each other house rooting like him aloe vera rootingto make the process more efficient.
Where to buy purslane in Spain
There are many places to buy purslane in Spain today, both seeds and small plants. In general, nurseries usually have specimens and if they don’t, they can source them.
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