How to grow and harvest Golden Purslane | help me out here please!

[@chrisclonpriest8547]

Thanks for the video Steve. Having read the suggestion somewhere that sowing purslane in an open tray was the best approach followed by pricking out and transplanting to final destination, that’s what I did this year but found the pricking out job very tricky. I transplanted pretty much en masse direct to soil in my poly tunnel where they’re growing very quickly! I’ll go for modular sowing this coming succession (today!) and aim for good spacing.

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks Chris, I think they struggle early on no matter what you do because they grow so very slowly initially, I guess that's why they drop soooo many seeds, only a few need to survive : All the best - Steve

[@jangal2233]

I think the eBook advice is admirably clear and detailed. Thank you. I was interested in how spaced out your plants are in the first patch you deal with in your video. I grow mine quite a lot closer together, and they seem to thrive well. Are you spacing them because you’re planning to interplant? Or do you find it works best at that spacing?

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks for checking out the section of the book. Spacing was largely determined by how many plants I had space to grow in modules. The second - direct seeded - bed has a higher density so I will get to see how they do. My normal criteria for density is a combination of ease of harvest, competition for resources and opportunity for interplanting. The plants look quite far apart right now because they are only a couple of weeks old, they will soon fill out the bed though : All the best - Steve

[@ronaldandsusanshaws-growing]

Hi Steve, For whatever reason starting with this video notifications from you have stopped, I found this video by watching someone else's videos, Take care.

[@SteveRichards]

views are down right now, but then it's that time of year, not to worry, typing hurts too much anyway so I'm pleased I've few comments to deal with : All the best - Steve

[@KatySimpsonLive]

Hi again Steve! Just found yiur 2 fab videos on golden purslane. I heard that they are great for feeding chickens and are high omega 3 (which I need) and happily came across your videos! I’m really happy to hear how tasty you find them and the seeds are so cheap! Excited to get growing them. I’ve also read that you have struggled with an auto immune disease and how your allotment and gardening have helped you. That is so so good to hear as this is why I am getting into it more but also need strategies to make it as easy as poss. Thanks again for your videos. I hope you continue to be on the mend (Liz Zorab also got into growing veggies due to her I’ll health) . My M.E. doctor Dr Myhill has a few videos on YT of the specificities of how growing herbs and veggies can support and heal your body systems and mind.

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks for the lovely comment Katy, purslane is high in omega 3 for a plant, but I do t think it’s a substitute for other forms in your diet which are much more potent, it’s really good in salads though. Bear in mind that it’s drops a lot of seed, so once you’ve sown it in a bed you will have it for a long time. Also don’t compost the plants when they’re finished otherwise you will spread the seed everywhere! : all the best - Steve

[@pandorasgarden3369]

I have a lovely patch growing haven’t harvested still waiting on it to get a little bit bigger.

[@SteveRichards]

My germination has been terrible this year, not sure what I'm going to do to recover the situation : All the best - Steve

[@pandorasgarden3369]

Steve's Seaside Kitchen Garden & Allotment man I wish I could send some seeds over to you! Still have maybe 200plus since they are so small.

[@SteveRichards]

I've got some new seeds now, but they are a bit behind so the harvest window is closing!

[@ali88881]

@@SteveRichards mine are terrible too. A few of those that germinated are weak. I’ve only got about 20 seedlings in total. I sowed 2 per cell (some 3) Typically both (or all 3) seedlings have germinated in a few modules and many modules neither seed germinated. So when I thin them out I’m left with only 10 plants. What will happen if I plant the module with both seedlings and do not thin to one? Will they suffer?

[@Lifegrowsonandon]

I pricked out 40 golden purslane seedlings to a 40 tray and none of them took! Wonder if its too late to sow more now but directly into the modules

[@SteveRichards]

If you sow now you will hopefully be harvesting in August and eating until mid September so it's probably worth it. I wonder why your had so many fail, I generally have about 90% take, but perhaps 20% of those are weak : All the best - Steve

[@mikarim.9300]

Somehow,purslane got in our vegtable garden.It is incredibly invasive. We can’t get rid of it in three years.

[@SteveRichards]

Yea, as I say, grow it in the same bed every year, it’s a prolific self seeder and don’t compost it!! : all the best - Steve

[@pineapple365]

Where do I buy the seeds?

[@SteveRichards]

You can find them on Amazon

[@michellekrantz888]

I grew golden purslane for the first time last year, 2021. I had already discovered that the wild purslane thriving in my garden beds was edible and tasty (very tangy in a citrusy way), so I was intrigued by the golden variety. It did really well last year, except when it got damaged by a few hail storms, and it had a pleasant citrus flavor. It reseeded prolifically, which I expected and welcomed. It has come up in great abundance this year and I did not sow any additional seed. Today, June 13, I just made my first harvest. I may have done so a tiny bit early, but I couldn't wait. I sat here eating it all while watching your video. However, I find this year's crop is not quite as citrusy as last year's. Could that be due to harvesting too soon? I found last year that it can be susceptible to leaf miners (as can it's wild cousin) but I've not seen evidence of their presence yet this year. However, I watched in fascination and a little horror a few days ago as a female Sphinx moth was happily laying her eggs on the under side of the leaves. She was very intentional about the host plant she wanted, checking out and rejecting several other types of greens and returning to the purslane each time. For those who may not know, the Sphinx moth larvae are also known as tomato horn worm, a voracious caterpillar which will devastate tomatoes, but also, apparently, golden purslane - who knew? Sure enough, today as I was eating my purslane, I was inspecting each bit carefully and I found three eggs, and 6-7 tiny worms. Keep an eye out for these little guys (and possibly other types of caterpillars) by looking for semi-circular notches on the edges of your leaves. If you see this, you have some type of a worm enjoying your crop and will need to decide how you want to deal with it. I think the easiest method would be to cover with a lightweight floating row cover.

[@SteveRichards]

I’ve never had caterpillars on mine, but sometimes I get greenfly, which normally washes off ok. If it’s bad I cut the plants right back and they normally regrow clear of pests : all the best - Steve

[@elaineewart6640]

Loved the info and video

[@bernadette6211]

I had a look in your ebook, all the information is there, very clear and detailed, thanks Steve. Now all I have to do is get sowing

[@kathyhughes7074]

Where can we buy Golden purslane seeds. Can they grow in container gardens & still come back next year? I am zone 3/MN.

[@SteveRichards]

They are widely available in the UK, not sure about the US you'd have to google them. The plants don't come back, but they are prolific self seeders, so once you grow them you will have new seedlings each year : All the best - Steve

[@LSinclair]

So helpful! Thank you, I had no idea they would “double up” the way basil does for instance, in only a week!? I’m really excited. Thank you for this helpful, time lapse video!!!!

[@SteveRichards]

My seeds only had 30% germination this year, so I’m scrambling to sow again!

[@LSinclair]

@@SteveRichards Even with that, you sure have in the meantime a wonderful crop that provides amply when you harvest the way you do! But yes, for such a hardy plant, I’ve noticed they take a little patience to get started! :) Thank you!

[@TheEnglishladyskitchengarden]

I sowed my first purslane last week in my 'gutter garden'. I'm looking forward to try it in salads.

[@SteveRichards]

Pleased you managed to get some seeds! : All the best - Steve

[@playingwithdata]

Maybe this isn't the most helpful comment but I haven't had any problem with pricked out purslane seedlings being overly affected by transplant shock. I prick out larger seedlings than you show (with true leaves, but they still have very small root systems) and my compost is much rougher than the stuff I see in your video. Not sure how much impact those differences have.

[@SteveRichards]

Interesting, maybe I should wait a while. By transplant shock I mean that it takes them a couple of weeks to start growing again : All the best - Steve

[@neil9505]

This is so funny. I was inspired by your harvesting video showing you putting together your salad mixes. It got me wondering if it is too late to add any of your favourites to my summer sowing and planting (I have three types of lettuce going already (some in the ground and spares still in modules) but it feels like time to build on the basics). Right, time to hit the 'play' button.

[@SteveRichards]

excellent, we like to have sugar snap and mangetout peas, cucamelons, purslane, tomatoes and strawberries to our mixes in summer : All the best - Steve

[@patricialynch3200]

What excellent timing. I had sown golden purslane on your recommendation, based on your ebook, and they are almost ready for a first harvest. I have one question - how long can you keep harvesting them for? Will they last all summer or do you need to plant a second batch?

[@SteveRichards]

Hi Patricia, I do find that they run out of steam in mid August for us, but that may be because we get a lot of rain in late July/August and they don't like to be damp. They do like water though, but a quick watering can full is better than a slow drizzle. This year I'm going to leave my cold-frame top on and see if that helps : All the best - Steve

[@guyscudamore4930]

is it worth sowing into toilet roll tubes to just plant the whole thing and possibly avoid transplant shock? I find the eBook really valuable with great connectivity to additional resources. The language is well targeted to the reader, it would be nice to have additional links to scientific reasoning for things if possible.

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks, the book is a work in progress. It’s sometimes hard to find scientific support for the way I grow as I break a lot of rules, hence my focus on showing the results I get rather than just telling people what to do. I don’t think it’s worth sowing in toilet rolls, just accept that they will look unhealthy for a couple of weeks. I picked 4 litres today, they are quite happy now

[@ittsacrazyworld]

Did you say you could eat the seed heads and the peppery black looking seeds in them?

[@SteveRichards]

I did, I think that's the best part of them : All the best - Steve

[@ittsacrazyworld]

@@SteveRichards I have a bunch of them forming seeds right now. Going to give it a taste. 👍

[@cumbrianhomestead]

I'm glad I found this one Steve as I've not grown Golden Purslane before this year (you inspired me!) and was uncertain as to how to harvest it. I just sowed into a drill without thinning so they're a bit crowded but your video will definitely help me for future sowings. ATB Woody 🙂

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks Woody, check out the book, it’s easier to find videos that way!