Purslaneplant (Portulaca oleracea) The Purslane plant (Portulaca oleracea) is known in many names including little hogweed, common pursl...
Purslaneplant (Portulaca oleracea)
The Purslane
plant (Portulaca oleracea) is known in many names including little hogweed, common
purslane, parsley, and duckweed. These plants have a close association with humans
throughout history. Hence, they have thousands of names around the world in
different languages.
In fact, Purslane
plant is a succulent growing annually. It belongs to the family Portulacaceae. Oleracea
is a Latin name meaning Herb/Vegetable and also a form of holeraceus (oleraceus).
Purslane
plants are rich in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. These nutritional
powerhouses have about seven times more beta carotene than carrots. You can
consume them raw or cook them in a variety of dishes. In the US, most restaurants
serve purslane foods.
Contrastingly,
the United States Department of Agriculture sees these plants as noxious weeds.
Therefore, the cultivation of Purslane plants (Portulaca oleracea) is limited
or restricted in some regions.
Distribution
Due to human
impact or anthropogenic, you can find these plants naturalized in most parts of
the world. They are distributed abundantly from Northern African regions to the
south European lands. Purslane is considered to be indigenous to these regions.
Their
distribution further extends to Australia through the middle east, the Indian
subcontinent, and Malaysia.
The Crawford
Lake deposits contain species of these plants that exist from pre-Columbian
periods. There are also pieces of evidence of
native Americans consuming and foraging these plants. However, the data on the
entry of these plants into America and the species status of these plants in
America Etc., are not clear.
Description
Purslane
plants (Portulaca oleracea) grow about 40 cm in height. The reddish smooth
stems tend to grow in a prostrating manner. The green leaves develop in clusters
and are arranged in alternate or opposite fashions.
Depending on
the rain, the 6 mm yellow blooms may develop at any time during the year. The
flowers open individually for a couple of hours or more in the sunny mornings.
Tiny seeds
are developed inside the pods. The pods break open when the seeds in them
mature. The secondary fibrous roots (developed on taproots) help the purslane
to survive in droughts and poor soils.
Propagation
Purslane plants thrive well in
locations that receive part to full sunlight. They prefer to grow in drier
types of soils (pH 6.0 – 6.5). USDA recommends zone 8 to grow these plants.
You can grow these plants from seeds,
stem cuttings, divisions, or transplantations.
Seeds
The Purslane
plant (Portulaca oleracea) seeds are easily available online for purchase.
These plants can develop over 50,000 seeds in the course of their lifetime.
So, there will be no necessity of purchasing the seeds again ideally.
You can
start this process after the frost, when the soil temperatures rise above 60
degrees Fahrenheit.
Just
sprinkle the seeds on the moist soil and leave them uncovered or barely
covered. New seedlings will emerge within 7 -10 days’ time. Make sure to thin
them about 8 inches after they develop a set of true leaves.
Alternatively,
you can start the process indoors at least 3 weeks prior to the last frost
date. Just sprinkle the seeds on a pot that is filled with potting mixture.
After the
last frost date is passed away and a set of true leaves are developed, start
hardening them gradually for a week. Then, you can transplant them into the
outdoor spaces.
Stem cuttings
This is one
of the safest and efficient method of propagating purslane plant (Portulaca
oleracea).
Select a
healthy plant and cut off a stem about 6 inches from the top. After removing
the leaves and other debris from the bottom half, gently dip the cutting end in the
powdered rooting hormone.
Then, plant
the stem cutting in a container filled with potting soil. Place this container
in indirect sunlight. Water the plant and maintain the moisture. Avoid over-watering. otherwise, the resultant waterlogging can damage the plants by
inviting pests and diseases.
Under normal
circumstances, the cuttings would root within a couple of weeks. After that,
transplant the cuttings carefully.
Nursery plants
The easiest
way to grow purslane is to purchase it from the nursery and transplant it
outdoors.
Dig out the
entire plant from the package. In the garden, dig a hole large enough to
accommodate the root ball of the plant.
Place the plant in the dug hole in an upright position and cover it with
soil.
Maintain the soil in moist to dry condition. You can find the plant to be replenished with
new energy and fresh growth in just a few days’ time!
Caring
Purslane plants (Portulaca oleracea)
do well in temperatures more than 70°F. They can thrive well even when the
temperatures exceed 100°F. However, these plants bloom well under partial
shades.
Fertilizing is not essential. Just
maintain the water moisture evenly for leafier growth. Mulching keeps the
vigorous growth of the plant under check.
Purslane Microgreens
Purslane microgreens are delicious to
consume. They are tarty and juicy. It is easy to grow them indoors.
In a seed tray, fill potting mixture
and sprinkle the purslane seeds gently. Press them inwards and keep the tray in a space that receives indirect sunlight. These microgreens grow better in spaces
that have temperatures above 75°F. You can also use heat mats to keep the
arrangement warm.
Maintain the soil moisture by
watering regularly. The seeds sprout out in about a week. Then, the first
leaves develop in about 2 – 3 weeks. You can pick them right away and consume
them.
Harvest
From seeds, purslane plants require
about 2 months to develop the matured succulent leaves. Under ideal conditions,
they can be harvested about three times a year.
While harvesting, cut the plant out
leaving below about 2 inches of stems at the base. This enables them to regrow
quickly. Make sure to place the harvested yield immediately in a cool space.
Preservation
You can increase the shelf life of
the harvested plants by preserving them in the refrigerator. Just wrap them in a cotton cloth or plastic
bags without washing them. Then refrigerate them in a crisper box and use them
as needed for about 1 - 2 weeks.
You can also dry them in dehydrators.
Just spread the leaves in a cookie sheet and heat them in dehydrators (135°F
setting). Take them out after they become brittle.
You can use them in your daily
cooking. Dried purslane can act as thickening agents in soups and other liquid
foods. They can also be used in powdered form for flavoring foods.
Nutrition
Generally, purslane
plants are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and potassium.
Moreover, these plants also contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and gamma-linolenic
acid (LNA) omega 3 fatty acids that are found in fish.
If you have purchased purslanes, be
aware that they may have been grown by spraying chemicals. These types of
plants are not suitable for consuming or foraging.
Uses of purslane plant
The Purslane
plant (Portulaca oleracea) is used in various medical applications. It is an
effective caffeine antidote, Insulin Booster, and also an immune booster. Purslane
reduces arrhythmia risk and lowers blood pressure. It is used to treat skin
irritations, asthma, headache, wounds Etc.
You can use
purslane in salads, stir-fries, soups, or cook as vegetables like spinach. You
can also pickle purslanes and use them as side foods.
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