Green Purslane [Portulaca oleracea]

The annual summer purslane is a leaf vegetable and medicinal plant and has been popular as a succulent for thousands of years. High vitamin content and many minerals help with digestive disorders and heartburn. Ideal for direct sowing, pot cultivation possible, sowing spring-summer, good for mixed culture, harvesting the leaves.

 Description 
Summer purslane is an annual succulent, leaf vegetable and medicinal plant from the Middle East and has been an integral part of vegetarian Indian cuisine for thousands of years. The heat-loving plant forms dense, thick, fleshy leaves on reddish-tinged stems. The older, mildly spicy, nutty to sour leaves are harvested with the shoot tips; young leaves have a fresh, salty taste and are eaten raw. The leaves contain very high levels of vitamins and minerals and are effective as freshly squeezed juice for digestive disorders and heartburn. A cocktail with nettle and dandelion works wonders for spring fatigue. Can be harvested several times a year; easy-care crop.

 General information 
Plant family: Portulacaceae
Life cycle: Annual
Days to harvest: 70 days
Plant height approx.: 40 cm
Root type: Shallow rooter
Nutrient requirements: Low
Water requirements: Low
Winter hardiness: Up to 3°C
Location: Sunny
Soil: Permeable, humus-rich sandy loam soil

pH value: 6.5 to 7

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Light germinator
Sowing depth: 0 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 22-28 °C
Germination time: 7-20 days
Plant and row spacing: 10x30 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 15 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Strawberry, Kohlrabi, Radish, Lettuce, Rocket
Unfavorable mixed culture: -

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Direct sowing from April to August is recommended. The plants should ideally be planted in a sunny location.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Direct sowing from May to June is recommended. The plants should ideally be in a sunny location.

 General recommendations 
Direct sowing is recommended. After germination, thin out the plants to the specified plant spacing.
Summer purslane does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
In sunny and very sandy locations, the plants grow in a creeping manner. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water retention capacity, additional incorporation of biochar and primary rock flour is recommended.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds.

 Plant care 
It is recommended to regularly remove the top shoot tips to achieve stronger branching. Regular watering results in faster growth. No fertilization necessary.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Portulaca sativa, Portulaca oleracea var. sativa
English names: Green purslane, Summer purslane
German names: Portulak, Gemüseportulak, Sommerportulak
Portuguese names: Beldroega
Spanish names: Verdolaga
French names: Pourpier

 Origin 
Country: Portugal