Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Anybody here grow purslane?

I've had a lot of trouble finding it at nurseries; nobody seems to have it. And if I'm going to order away for it, I want to have some idea that I can really grow it.

How much sun does it need? How susceptible is it to pests, and which ones? Can I start it from seed?

Well, it's growing really well all over a friends garden. He used it in a chili verde last week that was quite tasty. I suppose I could send you a few plants in paper cups....

I'd like a picture of purslane. I think we spray ours with Round Up.

CC

Becky,

You can't mail live plants to California without an inspection permit.

Tim,

See, you should be eating them instead. Silly person!

Purlsane does grow as a weed around here, and I tried growing it once, but had little success. I am much more successful with other weeds.

I remember the place I got the seeds was pinetree gardens. Now they have two - maybe I'll try the second one someday.

Dave,

Now, that's a possibility. It's annoying; purslane is tasty, and useful in Mexican, Asian and even French cuisine. But even my Western Garden Book only describes techniques for eradication. When I ask local plant stores if they carry it, they look at me like I've lost it.

Mind you, I'm wondering if SF is too foggy for purslane, since I've never seen it wild here. Now, fennel on the other hand grows as a weed. As do geraniums; I don't even plant them, they just come up.

Fuzzy,

It has been VERY humid here this season, both in spring and summer, and I have purslane weeds out there - just saw some today. It has been so humid that sometimes there is dew on my car in the morning, when it is 80º already. Obviously, it doesn't mind heat, either.

Dave,

Yes. My caution is that purslane is said to be "sun and heat loving", and we have neither.

And, you live in San Francisco because...?

Amy,

... because it's not 106F in the shade right now?