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How to Grow Purslane

Portulaca oleracea

Tender Warm Season Continuous Harvest

When to Start

Start seeds indoors 2 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant outdoors once night temperatures stay above 10°C and soil has warmed to at least 15°C.

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Growth Stages

Sow seeds
Germination ~7d
Harvest ~40d

Approximate days from start

Care Essentials

  • Rarely needed. Purslane thrives in poor soil. Excess nitrogen makes growth leggy and reduces flavour.
  • An incredibly easy, heat-loving salad green rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Grows fast in hot weather when lettuce bolts. Self-seeds readily if allowed to flower.

Companion Planting

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Growing Conditions

Min. soil temperature: 15°C+
Germination temperature: 18–35°C

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Spacing & Planting

Plant spacing 15 cm
Row spacing 30 cm
Sow depth 0.3 cm
Mature height 20 cm
Mature spread 30 cm

Can be broadcast-sown as a cut-and-come-again crop or spaced for larger individual plants.

Try our spacing calculator →

Care Guide

Feeding
Rarely needed. Purslane thrives in poor soil. Excess nitrogen makes growth leggy and reduces flavour.
Watch for
  • Slugs on young plants
  • Aphids (rare)
  • Self-seeding if left to flower

Pests & Diseases

Pest Slugs

Identification: Seedlings eaten overnight, slime trails on soil surface

Organic treatment:
  • Beer traps
  • Copper barriers
  • Sow thickly to compensate
Chemical treatment:
  • Ferric phosphate pellets
Disease Damping Off Pythium spp.

Symptoms: Seedlings collapse at soil level, stems thin and water-soaked at the base

Treatment: Remove affected seedlings. Improve ventilation.

Prevention: Sow thinly. Use clean compost. Avoid overwatering. Ensure good air circulation.

Growing Conditions

Min. soil temperature15°C
Germination temperature18–35°C
Base growth temperature10°C
Min. daylength to start11h
Photoperiod sensitivityday neutral

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I plant Purslane?
Plant Purslane 15cm apart with 30cm between rows.
When can I harvest Purslane?
Purslane is ready to harvest approximately 25 days after transplanting.
Is Purslane frost hardy?
Purslane is classified as Tender.

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