Before asking questions about the rules for growing purslane, it is worth determining for what purpose the plant will be used. Purslane includes more than two hundred species and subspecies, and the most popular of them are the following:
On sale you can find seeds of large-flowered purslane of various varieties. The most valuable of them are those with amazingly beautiful terry buds.
How to collect purslane seeds
Purslane of all types blooms very profusely; behind this splendor it is difficult to notice that each bud lives only one day. After wilting, fruit set and seed pods form. It is from these boxes that you need to collect the seeds in time, preventing them from falling to the ground, that is, self-sowing.
On a note! If purslane seeds are not collected, they are sown in the soil, and next summer new plants grow, which will bloom only at the very end of summer.
The procedure for collecting seeds is as follows:
- During the growth period, we begin to feed the purslane with mullein solution. In total, you need to make 3 fertilizer applications every 2 weeks;
- we wait until the first seed pods appear and open on the purslane, and the stems turn yellow;
- We dig up the plants by the roots, shake off the soil. There is no need to trim the leaves;
- in a room with good ventilation we stretch the ropes on which the purslane will hang. Lay burlap or similar fabric on the floor;
- We hang the dug up bushes so that they hang with the seed pods down.
In this way, the plants will dry out, and the seeds from the opened boxes will begin to fall onto the fabric. All that remains is to collect the seeds from the fabric and leave them until next spring.
The maximum shelf life of purslane seeds is 3-5 years. After this period, the germination percentage will tend to zero.
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Where and when to grow purslane from seeds
If you are lucky enough to live in the southern regions of our country, then you can safely plant purslane seeds directly into open ground without additional preparations or measures.
Residents of the northern regions of the country and the central zone are recommended to grow seedlings from seeds, which are then planted in a greenhouse or soil.
What is this connected with? Purslane cannot be called a whimsical plant, but for its abundant flowering, the immutable conditions are an abundance of light and warmth. These conditions apply to both adult plants and seedlings.
On a note! If frosts occur in your region even in summer, it is necessary to harden the purslane.
Seeds for seedlings begin to be sown in February and March. But due to insufficient sunlight, artificial lighting of the boxes is required. You can do without additional lighting, but in this case sowing should be done no earlier than the last days of April.
Important! At temperatures below +15–20°C, seedlings develop poorly and even die. And a lack of light will cause the seedlings to stretch out or lie down. The best germination of seeds is ensured at temperatures from +26 to +30°C.
Soil and containers for planting seeds
Purslane, both decorative and used for food, grows well even in poor soil if proper watering is provided and the right location is chosen. Indoor purslane species planted in compost do not need to be additionally fed or fertilized.
Important! Store-bought plant mixtures contain peat, which inhibits the growth of purslane. Therefore, you need to prepare the soil yourself.
Step 1. In the garden or vegetable garden, we collect soil without knots, grass and stones. We transport it in a tight bag, and then sift it through a large sieve.
Step 2. We weigh the resulting volume of soil, after which we take sifted river sand in a proportion of 5 parts soil to 1 part sand. Mix the ingredients well.
Step 3. Place the resulting mixture in the oven for calcination and disinfection. You can also perform the procedure in a water bath.
Proper soil preparation
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Next, prepare a container where soil will be filled and seeds sown. Wash a plastic container well with soap or bake a wooden box in the oven. If there are no drainage holes, drill them in the bottom of the container; the best hole size is 0.5-1 cm.
Pour a layer of fine gravel or expanded clay into a clean container (it’s better if the volume is small). The layer thickness is maximum 1 cm. Pour the soil mixture on top, leaving 1 cm from the edge of the side to the soil.
All that remains is to water the soil before sowing purslane. We use tap water that has settled for several days, but if it is possible to collect clean snow away from city roads, then we collect it, bring it home and water the soil with warm melt water.
On a note! Do not use too cold water to water seeds and seedlings. It is better if the liquid is at room temperature.
Sowing and caring for seedlings
Purslane seeds are small and dark in color. It is convenient to place them in the soil with a damp toothpick, keeping a distance of about 1 cm between the seeds. Do not bury the seeds too deeply into the soil.
If you don’t want to speed up the process, you can mix the seeds with pre-calcined river sand, then scatter the mixture over the damp soil and lightly press it with a flat spatula. The seeds are moistened from above using a spray bottle.
Immediately after sowing, the box should be covered with cling film or glass and placed under lamps (additional lighting mode: 2-3 hours in the morning and up to four hours in the evening, as well as during the day in cloudy weather). Be mindful of the temperature.
The film should be removed briefly every day for ventilation. If the soil dries out, it is moistened again with a spray bottle. It is important not to overdo it with watering.
After about 7-14 days, the first purslane shoots will appear. During this period, the box with seedlings (without film) can already be placed on a windowsill or glassed-in loggia. It's good if the windows face south. If the seedlings are too dense, you should thin them out a little.
Planting of seedlings is carried out when the seedlings have two true leaves. Plants are transplanted into small pots or cups with a diameter of about 4-7 cm, trying to shake off not all the soil from the roots. You can transplant the purslane into a larger box, leaving a distance of 4-5 cm between the sprouts. The sprouts are sprinkled with soil up to the cotyledon leaves.
It will not be superfluous to apply mineral fertilizer weekly, but this measure is not necessary. Ammonium sulfate is used as a top dressing in the proportion of half a matchbox to a ten-liter bucket of water.
On a note! The first hardening is carried out after picking. Cups with plants are placed outside for 10-15 minutes every day, the air temperature should be at least 10 degrees. Gradually, the hardening time in the daytime is increased to 6 hours.
Planting purslane seedlings
If the frosts have already passed, and more than 7-9 true leaves have grown on the sprouts, you can plant the plants in open ground.
Rules for choosing a place to grow purslane:
- the site for purslane should be open, on a hill;
- there should be no trees or buildings nearby that provide shade or partial shade;
- the soil should not be waterlogged, otherwise the roots will begin to rot;
- It is better if the soil for ornamental types of purslane is poor, otherwise it will bloom poorly, gaining greenery. Garden purslane can be grown in nutrient-rich, but not greasy, soil;
- It is permissible to plant seedlings on alpine hills, in hanging flowerpots, street flower beds, etc.
Table of dates for planting purslane in the soil
Based on the table, we select the disembarkation time. We transplant the seedlings by carefully removing them with a lump of earth from a box or cup and moving them into holes, which should be located at a distance of up to 15 cm from each other.
On a note! Plant early in the morning or in the evening, so the tender shoots will take root better.
Water the plant regularly, but not too often, so as not to over-moisten the soil.
If the plant has spots on its leaves or the shoots are severely deformed, it is necessary to remove the affected parts and then treat them with fungicides containing copper.
Video – Purslane. How to sow and grow from seeds
Video - Sowing purslane on fabric
Video - Planting purslane seedlings from fabric into the ground
Purslane grandiflora is the botanical name of this wonderful succulent. Due to its ability to grow like a ground cover plant, it forms a multi-colored carpet. In this article we will tell you about growing purslane from seeds and seedlings and give recommendations for care.
Purslane is grown as an annual. Caring for it is simple, but it has some nuances, knowing which you can achieve earlier flowering. To do this, seeds are sown for seedlings at the end of February, at the beginning of March in a greenhouse or at home. Many people consider this method the most successful. Relates well to replanting with germinated material. The main advantage is flowering, which occurs a month earlier than from seeds planted in open ground.
The height of the plants and the color of the flowers depend on the variety. Often the seeds are sold in a mixture.Preparation of nutrient substrate for sowing seeds
Purslane is significantly different from most garden annuals. Being a close relative of cacti, it requires poor, light sandy soils. This is the mixture that is prepared for seedlings. The composition of the plant mixture for sowing purslane is indicated in the table.
To disinfect, the mixture is calcined in the oven. Unfortunately, not only pathogenic organisms, but also beneficial flora die in the soil. Therefore, two weeks before sowing, the substrate is populated with Effective microorganisms. For this purpose use:
- Emmies;
- EM – 1;
- EM – A;
- Baikal EM – 1.
Technique for sowing purslane seeds in containers
- In a planting container with a wall height of 10 cm, drainage made of fine expanded clay is placed on the bottom in a layer of 1 - 1.5 cm.
- The container is filled with the plant mixture, slightly compacting it.
- The soil is moistened.
- Form grooves 0.5 cm deep. The distance between the strips is 5 cm.
- Purslane seeds are placed in depressions at intervals of 1 cm. Purslane grains are very small, so it is difficult to sow evenly. It's not scary, because the seedlings can be picked.
- After sowing, the furrows are sprinkled with sand, pressed down, and sprayed with a spray bottle.
- In each corner of the container, pegs of 15–20 cm are installed, on which plastic film is stretched. Pegs successfully replace pencils. This is how a small greenhouse is formed. The temperature in it must be maintained at least +22 0. It is better if it is +30 0, then the seeds will sprout faster.
Sowing selection when growing by seedlings
When sowing purslane for seedlings, it is important to provide additional lighting to the containers with seeds. Artificial light lamps combined with sunlight should be 14 hours. On cloudy days, the crops are illuminated only by lamps.
When the seedlings reach the size of two true leaves, they need to be thinned out, that is, picked apart. To do this, you will need special pots with a diameter of 7–8 cm. They are filled with the same substrate that was used for sowing. 3–4 seedlings are placed in each cup. Or one at a time in a peat pot. When the planted purslane produces the next true leaf, it means it has taken root. This happens in about a week.
Tip #1. It is important to move each plant with a lump of soil so as not to damage the roots. Otherwise, the seedlings will not take root.
Feeding purslane with fertilizers, means to accelerate growth and flowering
Succulents can grow without any fertilizing, but with the help of fertilizers, flowering becomes abundant, the flowers are larger, and the color is brighter. For fertilizing, a complete complex fertilizer is used. Ready-made balanced formulations are popular:
- “Fertika Lux – floral (NPK – 18 – 9 – 11 + microelements)” high nitrogen content stimulates the growth of purslane after rooting in open ground.
- Balanced fertilizer is easy to apply to flower plants.
- “Arvi Fertis” (NPK – 13 – 10 – 15 + microelements) significantly increases flowering in spring and summer. Apply after complete survival and at the beginning of flowering.
- "Biochelate Boron" is a biologically active drug that improves pollen growth, thereby promoting long-term flowering.
- “Compo for flowering” - high potassium content promotes bright flowering. Used for both garden and indoor plants. Gives good results when growing purslane at home and in greenhouses.
Timing for planting purslane in open ground in different regions
Some gardeners who do not have the opportunity to supplement their crops recommend sowing purslane for seedlings in April. Then daylight hours become sufficient for seed germination without artificial lighting. It is better to place the crops on southern windowsills. The method of sowing and caring for seedlings is the same as for purslane planted at the end of February. The difference is that it can be moved to a permanent place later than greenhouse crops.
A signal that the seedlings will safely tolerate a change in place of residence is established warmth, without the risk of return frosts. Purslane is afraid of the cold; it reacts in a unique way to unfavorable conditions; if the temperature is lower than + 10 0, the plant sheds all its leaves. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor the weather forecast to avoid possible cold snap.
Flowering plants can also be planted if the weather did not allow it before. In different regions, the final warmth is determined depending on the climate and affects the timing of the migration of purslane to flower beds. The timing of planting purslane in open ground in different regions is shown in the table:
In addition to weather conditions, you need to take into account the size of the seedlings. Flower growers consider a plant to be ready when it has about 10 – 12 leaves and several flower buds. Before planting seedlings, it is worth choosing a suitable place for purslane. The conditions necessary for its successful growth differ from most flowering crops.
Choosing a growing location and planting features
An important criterion for the flowering of purslane is a well-lit place, even in light partial shade; this succulent produces only leaves. In addition, purslane reacts with an excessively lush green mass to high soil fertility. It does not bloom on soils rich in organic matter due to the fact that all nutrients go into the leaves. and are stored in them for a long time in reserve.
Advice #2 . So thatRemove the seedlings with a whole lump of soil; first, together with the pot, place it in a large container with water. Then, pressure is applied to the walls of the pot from all sides. If the seedlings are carefully turned over, they will “crawl” out of the pot on their own.
Caring for purslane in flower beds and at home
One of the important conditions for care is watering. For purslane it has a number of features. After planting in open ground, the crop is watered daily for a week. When the plants undergo adaptation, the amount of irrigation is significantly reduced, approximately once every 10–14 days. Although succulents can survive without water for long periods of time, lack of moisture will negatively affect the quality of flowering.
Purslane does not tolerate cold and hard water. The best liquid is rainwater with a temperature of +20 0 - + 30 0. To avoid sunburn, it is best to moisturize in the morning or evening at sunset.
Purslane can bloom at home all year round, even in winter. Succulent plants are extremely unpretentious and do not require additional feeding. When they gain strength, we can say that they support themselves. All nutrition is concentrated in watery leaves. Due to its unpretentiousness, purslane is successfully used in indoor floriculture and for landscaping balconies.
In pots and boxes, it behaves like a hanging plant, hanging picturesquely from the edges. Seed preparation and planting are the same as for open ground. Only the planting dates differ, since the room temperature does not limit the growing time. This magnificent succulent at home pleases with its flowering all year round.
The history of growing purslane as a houseplant began with the fact that flower growers who grew purslane in flower beds began to preserve it in indoor or greenhouse conditions until spring. This method allows you to propagate it not only by seeds, but also by cuttings. This is especially true for spectacular varieties. Queen cells overwinter in greenhouse conditions. At the end of February, beginning of March, cuttings are taken from them; these are stems with leaves, 10 cm long.
Rooting purslane:
- The lower part of the cutting, which is placed in the substrate, is freed from leaves.
- Pollinate with a rooting agent, for example, Kornevin.
- The cuttings are placed in containers with a sandy substrate so that they do not come into contact with each other and the walls of the container.
- The planting is moistened
- Cover with plastic wrap.
Purslane is established when a pair of young leaves appear. Planted in open ground or on a balcony when weather conditions permit. To ensure flowering in winter, it is necessary to illuminate the plants for at least 14 hours and maintain a temperature of at least + 21 0.
Preventive measures against diseases and pests
Purslane is a plant resistant to diseases and pests. Very rarely, but still affected by aphids. Don't wait for this problem to happen. It is better to treat the plantings in advance with an insecticide against aphids, for example Actellik. The next session is repeated after 2 weeks.
One of the most dangerous diseases for purslane is a fungus, Albugo portulaceae, which causes leaf spotting and curling. It is fought with copper-containing agents, for example, copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture.
The best varieties of purslane
Thanks to the successes of modern breeding, purslane pleases flower growers with many varieties that differ in color, size and double flowers. Seed mixtures are traditionally popular. Fans of monochromatic plants can choose a hybrid based on their preferred color. The most commonly purchased ones are:
| Variety name | Flower color | Note |
| Pun | Mixture | Flower diameter – 4 cm. |
| Summer carpet | Mixture | Simple flowers |
| Bright flowerbed | Mixture | Flowers over 5 cm, grows up to 30 cm. |
| Terry red | Red | Large double flowers |
| Sunny Country - Golden | Bright yellow | Double flowers, 3 cm in size |
| Terry pink | Intense pink | Large double flowers, over 5 cm |
| Terry white | White with yellow stamens | Double flowers, 3 cm in diameter |
| Terry orange | Bright orange | Large flowers 5 cm |
With more than 50 varieties on sale, you can choose purslane to suit every taste. Category “Questions and Answers”
Question No. 1. I planted purslane in selected fertile soil, but it does not bloom. What is he missing?
Purslane is a succulent, they do not tolerate rich soil, the leaves take all the nutrients, and there is nothing left for the flowers. Purslane should be planted in sandy soil.
Question No. 2. Since childhood I remember multi-colored purslane. Is this a plant that has flowers of different colors on one bush?
No, each plant blooms one color. Traditionally, seeds are sold in a mixture, but if desired, you can buy varieties of the same color.
Question #3. I often hear that purslane is planted as seedlings, but can you sow it directly into a flower garden?
Theoretically, it is possible, but purslane has very small seeds, and the seedlings will have to be thinned out. In addition, if sown in open ground, it will bloom a month later, sometimes by the end of summer.
Question No. 4. Is it possible not to fertilize purslane?
Yes, it can do without fertilizing, but with fertilizers, the flowering is more abundant and the color is brighter.
Mistakes when growing purslane
- Planting in too fertile soil negatively affects flowering; all the energy goes into the leaves.
- Choosing an insufficiently lit place does not allow purslane to bloom.
- Overwatering leads to root rot and plant death. Purslane tolerates short-term drought better than excess water.
Even the most experienced summer resident who wants to decorate the area with an unpretentious plant can grow purslane from seeds. Depending on weather conditions, it may be necessary to prepare purslane seedlings in advance, but most often they are planted directly in open ground.
The vegetable purslane tastes like a cross between spinach and arugula.
Purslane is a very “ambiguous” plant, because it can become not only a decoration for your summer cottage, but also appear as a side dish on your table. However, many will still consider it nothing more than... an ordinary weed. However, subject to certain rules,growing purslane from seedswill not cause much trouble and will allow you to SIMPLY diversify your garden with another rather unpretentious ornamental annual.
So, to begin with, it is worth clarifying that if the widespread purslane is actually considered a weed (which does not prevent everyone who wants to grow it as a green crop), then the large-flowered purslane is an ornamental annual. It is the latter, thanks to the rich range of bright colors and a long flowering period, that looks especially good on alpine hills, flower beds, as well as in hanging flowerpots or floor flowerpots. The flowers are quite large (from three to six centimeters in diameter), and the small succulent leaves are needle-shaped.
Purslane is actively used in landscape design due to its unpretentiousness.
Features of planting purslane
In April-May, purslane seeds can be sown directly in open ground, if by this time the soil has already warmed up well enough. After it becomes possible to hold the seedlings with your fingers, they are thinned out.
If spring turns out to be cold, then it is worth preparing purslane seedlings. Considering that this plant feels great on poor sandy loam soil, a layer of drainage is poured onto the bottom of a shallow box (expanded clay can be used), and then a mixture of ordinary garden soil (three parts), sand (one part) and wood ash (one part ). Then the soil is slightly compacted and spilled.
Sowing seeds to obtain purslane seedlings should be done approximately a couple of hours after watering the soil in the box. To make it more convenient to sow small seeds, you can mix them with a small amount of sand. After this, the box is covered with glass until shoots appear.
Large-flowered purslane looks great in hanging flowerpots
When growing purslane for seedlings from seeds, if necessary, the seedlings are watered using a sprayer, but not often, since this plant tolerates drought better than waterlogged soil. When the sprouts reach a height of approximately 2.5 centimeters, the seedlings are transplanted into cups or cellular containers, leaving two seedlings in each.
Features of cultivation
The plant is extremely demanding of direct sunlight. Purslane blooms profusely and for a long time only in the presence of bright light, so for this plant you need to choose the most open places.
Purslane grows well in ordinary garden soil, and blooms most profusely when planted on poor, sandy soil. If the soil is rich in nutrients, the plant begins to “fatten”, increasing its green mass, and flowering weakens.
Purslane is often watered at the beginning of plant growth, then when the soil dries out significantly.
Propagation of purslane
Purslane reproduces by seeds, and self-seeding occurs under favorable conditions. In summer, purslane can be propagated by cuttings and dividing bushes.
Purslane seeds are very small, so they are sown in a mixture with sand on top of prepared moist soil. The soil should not contain peat and organic matter, since fungal diseases develop on such soil, from which purslane sprouts die. The container is covered with film or glass, placed in a warm place with good lighting, periodically ventilated and moistened. When small sprouts appear after a week or two, the cover is removed. The sprouts are not watered until they become stronger. If the soil dries out, moisten it with a spray bottle.
At one month of age, purslane seedlings are plucked. Since the root system of plants has not yet formed, planting in separate containers is carried out with caution. After transplantation, the plants are watered and kept in a warm, well-lit place.
With the onset of warm days, the seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the garden. It is better to postpone the procedure to the morning or evening, then the purslane seedlings will tolerate transplantation more easily. The distance between plants should remain 10-15 cm, since these small seedlings quickly become mats that fill the empty space. As the soil dries, purslane seedlings are watered. When the plant finally takes root, reduce watering.
Caring for purslane
Purslane is not demanding in terms of care; it is an ideal plant for those who are sorely lacking time for regular care of garden plants. Purslane should not be fed, otherwise flowering may stop completely. The plant is not affected by diseases and is not afraid of pests. Purslane does not need to be pruned. In order for purslane to delight you with its colorful flowers until autumn, it is enough to water it from time to time.
Purslane is used to create group plantings, where it forms a variegated carpet. This plant looks great in the front row of flower beds; it will also be ideal on an alpine hill. Purslane can also be used as a tub crop; it is planted in balcony boxes. Many people grow purslane on a window in a regular flower pot.
Garden purslane grows well in dry soil, so it can be a good alternative to a lawn. However, in this case there will be more advantages: such a “lawn” is not mowed, it constantly blooms with bright colors, even trampled areas are quickly and easily restored on their own! Purslane can be planted on dry slopes, at the joints of concrete slabs.
It is possible to plant purslane seedlings in the ground only when stable heat sets in, since even minimal frosts can destroy the plants. For this reason, it is better to wait until the beginning of June. When planting, leave about 15-20 centimeters between the bushes.
You will only have to weed the beds at the beginning, since over time the plant will occupy all the free space and will not give the weeds any chance. At the end of summer, seed boxes ripen and spontaneously open. Next year there will be no need to plant purslane in this place - it will sprout on its own if you do not dig up the ground.
There are a huge number of plants that can be used to decorate garden plots, flower beds, alpine slides and even flowerpots. To create an original landscape design, it is important to know what purslane is, planting and caring for it in open ground has its own characteristics.
What does purslane look like?
To understand what kind of purslane this is, you need to pay attention to the main points from the description of this flower crop:
- The bushes are low-growing and reach a height of 10-30 cm.
- The roots are branched and a stem emerges from them, which is curly and fleshy.
- The leaves are succulent and can be either cone-shaped or oval.
- The description of purslane states that the plant tends to spread along the ground, forming a whole flowering carpet.
- Flowers can be simple, semi-double or double. After flowering, a box with seeds is formed, which are silvery and shiny. They reach 0.6-0.9 mm in diameter.
How does purslane bloom?
The flowering period occurs during the warm season and what is interesting about this crop is that the flower opens only for a day, and by the evening it fades, but many buds are formed on the bush, so there is continuous flowering. It is worth noting that the flowers on the garden purslane remain closed in cloudy weather. There is a rich range of colors, so the buds can be yellow, white, peach, orange, pink.
Purslane plant - types
There are more than 200 types of succulents, including the following:
How to plant purslane?
It is important to pay attention to choosing the right place, as this flower crop prefers sunny areas or light partial shade. In such conditions, the flowers will open in the morning. If there is too much shade, then flowering will be poor. Before you understand how to sow purslane in open ground or for seedlings, you need to pay attention to the quality of the soil. The plant thrives in poor soils, but the presence of sand is important for it. Fertile soil will promote the growth of greenery, but flowering will be poor, so add sand to it.
Purslane - planting seeds
Freshly harvested planting material cannot be used, as it must last for about six months. It is worth noting that the seeds remain viable for three years. In order for purslane to take off and develop, planting and caring for it in open ground requires observing temperature conditions, so you can sow seeds when the ground has warmed up well. There is a certain scheme for planting purslane in open ground:
- First, moisten the soil and spread the seeds, and sprinkle a little sand on top.
- Cover the bed with film or glass to create greenhouse conditions. During the day, when the temperature rises, it is important to open the bed for a couple of hours for ventilation.
- To moisten the plantings, it is recommended to spray from a sprayer. After emergence, when the temperature is between 24-26°C, the film can be completely removed.
- When the height of the seedlings is 2-3 cm, they need to be thinned out and can be replanted, or leave them in the same place.
Purslane - planting seedlings
Many gardeners prefer this planting option because it is more reliable. To grow purslane seedlings, planting and care in open ground is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Prepare low containers, approximately 7 cm high, and make drainage holes in them. Add a layer of fine expanded clay or perlite, followed by a light substrate that should include sand, garden soil and charcoal chips. You cannot use store-bought soil for seedlings, as it contains peat, which is not suitable for planting purslane.
- Compact the soil and moisten it. Mix the seeds with sand and spread over the surface. Cover the container with a lid or glass. Place it in a warm and well-lit place. It is better to choose a window sill on the south side, otherwise you should use lighting. Please note that the average daily temperature must be at least 25°C.
- From time to time, ventilate the plantings and moisten the substrate. After a week, shoots will appear and then you need to remove the cover. It is important to ensure that the temperature does not fall below 20°C and that there is access to light.
- It is recommended to water the seedlings through a tray. After 2-3 true leaves appear, be sure to thin out the plantings, leaving the strongest of them.
- At the next stage, they are carried out in separate containers. Be sure to transfer the sprout along with a lump of earth. In separate pots, seedlings need to be deepened to the cotyledon leaves. It is recommended to gradually accustom plants to growing in open ground, exposing the pots to fresh air during the day. Start with 20 min. and increase the time.
- In order for purslane seedlings to take root, planting and care in open ground is carried out when the temperature is 20-22°C. In a new place, seedlings should be buried to the first leaf.
When to plant purslane?
If the goal is to plant seedlings, then sowing can be done in February. Having mature purslane seedlings, planting and care in open ground at a permanent breeding site can be carried out from the end of April to the beginning of May, when the air temperature does not drop below 20°C. This is important because low rates are detrimental to this flower crop. Another point that is worth paying attention to is how to plant purslane seeds in open ground, so sowing is carried out when the temperature at night does not fall below 10°C.
At what distance should I plant purslane?
This plant is interesting because it spreads along the ground, creating entire flowering carpets. People who decided to grow it for the first time do not know how to plant purslane in the ground and what distance to maintain between seedlings. If sowing occurs with seeds, it will be difficult to maintain any proportions due to their size, and when sprouts appear, they are simply thinned out. When using seedlings, it is necessary to take into account that there should be 15 cm between plantings in open ground.
Purslane - cultivation and care
The plant grows over time and produces a thick carpet that does not allow weeds to grow. After planting purslane, care in the open ground necessarily includes loosening, and in the future there is no need to carry out such procedures. The culture is heat-loving, so it will not be able to winter in open ground. Most gardeners collect seeds for planting next year, and the bushes themselves are pulled out and disposed of. Strong seedlings can be transplanted into a pot and brought home, placing them on a south window.
How does purslane grow?
If favorable conditions are created, that is, temperature, humidity and other criteria are met, then seedlings will appear in about a week. Many people are interested in what purslane seedlings look like, as the first shoots are very thin and colored white and pink, and after a while two small leaves appear at the top. With proper care, the seedlings gain strength, the stem grows, and real leaves form.
Purslane in a flowerbed - watering features
This flower crop is not moisture-loving and tolerates drought well, so frequent watering is not necessary. Please note that overly moist soil leads to the development of fungal diseases. Irrigation is carried out no more than once a week, and this should be done at the root. Growing purslane and caring for the plant in open ground does not require regular loosening, so this procedure is carried out only after planting.
Purslane grass - feeding
Decorative varieties do not require feeding. In addition, it is worth considering that too nutritious soils cause inhibition of flowering. If purslane is grown in open ground for culinary purposes, then regular feeding is recommended. For this purpose, it is better to use liquid mineral complexes, thanks to which the green mass will grow well. It is recommended to apply fertilizer once a month, starting from the moment shoots appear.
Are you thinking about how to decorate your flowerbed next spring? Pay attention to the purslane. The shoots of the plant have needle-like leaves, intertwining, covering the ground well, and the variety of colors (red, white, pink, orange, purple) creates a colorful meadow. In addition, the plant does not require much time to care for.
Growing purslane from seeds
There are several methods for breeding purslane. The most popular method is to grow purslane from seeds, as it does not require much time and effort.
Did you know? The name of the purslane flower comes from the Latin word “portula” - “collar”.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
For those who want to see purslane bloom in June, seedlings are planted in the ground. For seedlings, seeds are sown in February-March. Any soil is suitable for them, the main thing is that it is moisture- and breathable. Due to the small size of the seeds, when purslane is planted for seedlings, they are mixed with calcined sand. The resulting cocktail is scattered over the surface of the wet soil, without falling asleep, but slightly pressed to the surface of the soil, and irrigated with water from a sprayer. Then the pots are covered with polyethylene and transferred to a warm room (the temperature should not be lower than 20ºC). Once a day, the film is removed to ventilate and, if necessary, water.
Important! Do not overuse fertilizers. If there are a large number of them, the purslane will grow green and stop blooming.
Caring for purslane seedlings will not be a big hassle. The sprouts germinate in 1-2 weeks. When they appear, the covering is removed from the pots or boxes and the seedlings are moved to the window sills. Watering continues with a sprinkler. When the second leaf appears on the seedling, the purslane begins to sprout. Seedlings are planted at a distance of 4 cm from each other, deepening them to the cotyledon leaf. In the flower garden, purslane is planted at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other. Seedlings can be planted after frost (temperatures below 10ºC are critical for purslane). 
Sowing seeds in open ground
Purslane is a perennial plant. It can be planted once, and then the grass will self-sow. The plant can grow for years in the same place in the flowerbed. Purslane does not require specific care or special soil. Seeds should be sown after the last frost in a sunny location. When purslane is planted with seeds in open ground, the ground is first loosened and a small amount of fertilizer is applied, while the seeds are slightly pressed into the soil to a depth of 1 cm. The gap between the rows is within 50 cm. When two leaves appear on the seedlings, they are broken through, leaving one plant per 10 cm.
Propagation of purslane by cuttings
Purslane propagates well from cuttings. For the winter, you need to bring one or more plants from the flowerbed into the house. In the spring, some of the branches are cut off from the purslane, rooted in water and transplanted into a flower bed. When purslane is planted from cuttings, it blooms within a month.
Did you know?Purslane has a number of medicinal properties. Its shoots contain vitamins of groups A, B, K, PP, E. It also serves as a source of protein and carbohydrates.
Combination with other plants and use in landscape design
Purslane is great for use in landscape design. The plant is used for group plantings. Purslane looks great both in front of flower beds and on the southern slopes of alpine hills. In the flower garden, purslane is a good substitute for fading small-bulbous spring plants.
In mixborders it is used as a foreground plant. It is often used as a border plant in dry conditions. Having grown purslane in balcony boxes and flowerpots, they transform gazebos, verandas and terraces with it. The plant looks good with marigolds and nasturtiums.
Purslane serves as an alternative to lawn grass because it does not require frequent watering, it does not need to be cut, it never stops blooming, constantly pleasing the eye with bright colors.
How to care for purslane in the garden
Purslane was brought from South America - the tropics and subtropics. Therefore, good lighting and moderate watering are extremely important for it. You should not get carried away with fertilizers, as they can harm flowering. The plant needs to be watered once every 5-7 days with water at room temperature. In drought conditions, watering is carried out more often. The soil around the flowers should be fluffed only at the beginning of growth. Weeding from weeds is mandatory.
When growing purslane indoors in the summer, it is moved to a well-ventilated place protected from rain. 
Important! Purslane blooms well and abundantly only in the sun.
When to collect and how to store purslane seeds
To propagate purslane from seeds, it is necessary to take into account that this is only possible for non-double species. Terry purslane seeds do not germinate well. Seeds are formed and ripen unevenly, so they are collected as they ripen. The seed boxes are picked after they turn yellow, unripe, to avoid cracking. Dry the collected seed material, spreading it out on paper. To maintain high germination of seeds, they need to be placed in a tin or plastic container, tightly closing it with a lid. Storage temperature should not exceed 4-5ºC. Germination persists for three years. When storing seeds at high temperatures and humidity, germination rate decreases.
