Purslane Plant
Purslane Plant Information
You can identify purslane plant from other weeds by its smooth, reddish prostrate stems. The leaves are alternate and clustered at stem joints. It produces yellow flowers after rainfall. The seeds develop in a tiny pod and disperse when ready. This houseplant has a tap-root system with fibrous roots. This helps the plants survive through droughts, compact soil as well as poor soil conditions. Purslane plant is native to India and is said to have spread to other areas of the world during the Colonial Era. In United States, it is considered as an exotic weed and is cultivated as a food crop.
Purslane Plant Care
Purslane plant needs a well-drained, fertile soil. It loves to bask under full sun. It has the ability to survive a drought season and tolerates warm temperatures. Although it can survive almost any type of soil from poor soil to loamy garden soil. It can even grow in rocky soil and loves fertile soil. You can bring home purslane plant seeds and sow them in your garden. Do not press the seeds deep within the soil. Plant them near the surface as they will not germinate if kept ½ inch below the soil. After about two weeks the seeds will germinate and mostly grow well in the warm month of June.
In summer, you need to water the plants once a week, especially, if there is no rainfall. These plants are succulent and can survive long periods without water. You can harvest purslane plant within 6 weeks of growth. You should cut off young leaves and stems as they are tender and taste like spinach.
In case, your purslane plant turns invasive, you need to carry out weed control. You should pull out young tender plants. This is because it is easier to pull out the young plants then the mature ones. Remove the entire plant, as it has the ability to propagate from stems. You can use a broadleaf herbicide if the plants grow out of hand. Use organic herbicides like acetic acid and clove oil as they do not have ill effects on the surrounding plants like chemical herbicides.
Purslane Plant Recipes
You can eat purslane plant raw or can add it to different recipes. Let us have a look at one of the delicious and easy to cook purslane plant recipes.
Potato Curry with Purslane Leaves
Ingredients
You can identify purslane plant from other weeds by its smooth, reddish prostrate stems. The leaves are alternate and clustered at stem joints. It produces yellow flowers after rainfall. The seeds develop in a tiny pod and disperse when ready. This houseplant has a tap-root system with fibrous roots. This helps the plants survive through droughts, compact soil as well as poor soil conditions. Purslane plant is native to India and is said to have spread to other areas of the world during the Colonial Era. In United States, it is considered as an exotic weed and is cultivated as a food crop.
Purslane Plant Care
Purslane plant needs a well-drained, fertile soil. It loves to bask under full sun. It has the ability to survive a drought season and tolerates warm temperatures. Although it can survive almost any type of soil from poor soil to loamy garden soil. It can even grow in rocky soil and loves fertile soil. You can bring home purslane plant seeds and sow them in your garden. Do not press the seeds deep within the soil. Plant them near the surface as they will not germinate if kept ½ inch below the soil. After about two weeks the seeds will germinate and mostly grow well in the warm month of June.
In summer, you need to water the plants once a week, especially, if there is no rainfall. These plants are succulent and can survive long periods without water. You can harvest purslane plant within 6 weeks of growth. You should cut off young leaves and stems as they are tender and taste like spinach.
In case, your purslane plant turns invasive, you need to carry out weed control. You should pull out young tender plants. This is because it is easier to pull out the young plants then the mature ones. Remove the entire plant, as it has the ability to propagate from stems. You can use a broadleaf herbicide if the plants grow out of hand. Use organic herbicides like acetic acid and clove oil as they do not have ill effects on the surrounding plants like chemical herbicides.
Purslane Plant Recipes
You can eat purslane plant raw or can add it to different recipes. Let us have a look at one of the delicious and easy to cook purslane plant recipes.
Potato Curry with Purslane Leaves
Ingredients
- 3 cups boiled tender potatoes cut into 1 inch cubes
- 3 stalks minced celery
- 1 to 2 diced green onions and stems
- ½ cup sliced bell pepper
- 2/3 cup raw purslane leaves
- ½ to 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Add all the ingredients together along with the warm tender boiled potatoes. Mix well such that all the ingredients cover the potatoes and purslane leaves well. Cover the purslane and potato curry. Place the bowl in the refrigerator to chill and serve when required.
This was a simple and easy to cook salad recipe containing purslane plant. A highly nutritious plant, it contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B and carotenoids. It is full of essential minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron. It also contains high levels of omega 3 fatty acids, beta carotene and vitamin C. This was all about purslane plant care and recipes. You can use purslane plant recipes to increase the nutritional content of your diet. Try growing these simple to grow purslane plants in your vegetable garden and relish the tasty dishes made from these edible plants.
