Purslane

Cicer arietinum

Purslane seeds
Purslane seeds

Purslane is used widely in Mediterranean countries, throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Mexico. The stems, leaves and flower buds are all edible. Purslane may be used fresh as a salad, stir-fried, or cooked as spinach is, and because of its mucilaginous quality it also is suitable for soups and stews.

Purslane contains more omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid in particular) than any other leafy vegetable plant.
Sow purslane inside from Mid March to July, or outside when there is no chance of frost, from late May to August. Sow the seeds thinly, and keep well watered. The seeds germinate very quickly. Thin the seedlings out to 10cm apart, and when they reach 5-7cm in height, cut them back close to the ground. Harvest the leaves in the morning or evening, in order to preserve the plants’ juiciness.

Growing calendar for purslane
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Ahmet Caglar

Ahmet Caglar. Photo: Sara Heitlinger

About

Seed Guardian

My name is Ahmet. I’m originally from Turkey. I’m using my back garden for this project. It’s a small garden. Actually there is only one raised bed and some containers. I grow my own food...
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Where the seeds came from
I got the seeds from Turkey.

How to grow
This is a warmer climate plant, therefore it’s better to wait until May to sow outside. Or maybe even later, to make sure that the soil and the weather is warm enough for germination. Prepare a good seed bed and then sow it. I never started inside
or in a seed tray. I directly broadcast the seeds, that’s my way. They are not fussy. Within six weeks you can start picking.

Challenges
I found the germination a bit erratic. In some parts it worked, in some parts it didn’t germinate.

Ahmet on Purslane

How to save seeds
Towards the end of the season you can get seeds. Collecting is easy. They are actually in the tip of the plant, the cluster of very tiny black seeds. Actually you feel them because they start to open up, the seed pods, and there are many small black seeds. Then just bring an envelope and gently touch the seed head, and they will fall. Somewhere in Turkey they call purslane “seed thrower”, because the black seeds throw themselves onto the soil. And the next year you may find some plants, as they can germinate from there.

Recipe
Take some purslane, wash it and then add yoghurt, garlic, virgin olive oil, a little bit of salt. That’s it, that’s one recipe. And the other is grating some tomato into the purslane, add vinegar and garlic. That’s another quick recipe. They are different but both delicious. Purslane is a bit fleshy. It doesn’t have a kind of distinct flavour, but maybe this fleshiness gives it some sort of substance.

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Grow your own

Visit the free Connected Seeds Library at Spitalfields City Farm to choose seeds and start your own growing story. Find information about growing and collecting your own seeds. Use #connectedseeds to share your growing stories.