Purslane Field Management Techniques and Methods Tutorial

Purslane is an edible wild vegetable that can also be used as medicine to treat certain ailments. It is commonly found growing in rural fields and field edges, or along roadsides. It is fond of water by nature, and wherever it grows must be a moist place. It has strong adaptability and tenacious vitality. In recent years, a certain amount of artificial cultivation has also appeared. During the cultivation process, a certain amount of field management is also needed for it to grow better.

I. Water Control

Purslane needs a large amount of water to grow. It likes a moist growing environment, and generally the air and soil humidity should be maintained at around 80%. But at the same time, it is also very drought-tolerant and extremely adaptable, so when conditions are lacking, you can wait until fertilization or especially dry conditions before watering. During the vigorous growth period, you can water a bit more as appropriate. But do not water each time when the weather changes suddenly or when the temperature fluctuates up and down.

II. Fertilization

Base fertilizer is applied before sowing, but it is not necessary to dress the seeds with chemicals; you only need to spray a herbicide that can kill other grass seeds but is harmless to purslane, to kill the weeds in the field. Then dig furrows and apply the base fertilizer in the furrow rows, cover with a layer of soil, and then form ridges on the furrow rows for planting. Topdressing is generally carried out during the growth period. In the early stage, a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer can be applied to promote growth. During the vigorous growth period, topdressing should be done once every month, each time applying about 40 jin of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer per mu. After harvesting, fertilizer and water need to be strengthened to promote the production of new branches.

III. Tender Leaf Control

The young tender leaves of purslane before flowering are the main edible part; if it flowers, the stems and leaves will become old. Therefore, after each harvest, the growing tips must be pinched off, and the terminal flower buds removed. This prompts it to continuously produce new branches, prevents its reproductive growth, and keeps it continuously sprouting new leaves for harvesting. This continues until growth weakens and it withers in winter.

After spraying the chemical before sowing, if other weeds grow again later, they must be pulled out promptly. Wild grass competes for nutrients. After they grow and after heavy rain compacts the soil, cultivate once to aerate and ventilate, promote root growth, and absorb nutrients.

When planting purslane, although it has strong adaptability and vitality, artificial cultivation pursues benefits. Therefore, some specific field management measures are needed to restrict and achieve one's economic goals.