Planting a Patch of Purslane

For the past few years I've enjoyed eating a leafy plant that is sold in our local market. I only recently found out its English name, purslane, and that it grows wild on our property. It looks kind of like a miniature jade plant.


With a little research on the internet, I discovered that purslane grows in many places on the globe, including North America. The stems, leaves and flower buds are all edible. It's got lots of nutritional value (beta carotene, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and more). However, many people are unaware of its nutritional value and consider it to be simply an unwelcome weed.

Awan

One Saturday recently, I hired Awan, a student from our school who is also a budding gardener, to pick some purslane for me to eat and some to plant. I'd like to have some close to the house that I can water it and keep alive in the hot, dry season.



If the plant is picked carefully with the roots attached and then re-planted, it takes root again and continues to grow.  The plants spread out and multiply as the seeds fall onto the ground and easily germinate.

While Awan was picking the purslane, another teen, Abuk, was clearing grass from a patch of ground near my house, next to my clothesline.

As Abuk was finishing her work, Awan hoed a patch of the freshly-cleared earth.

Then Awan planted the purslane that had the best roots.

The purslane patch, a few days after planting.  All the plants survived being transplanted and are growing.