What are the harvesting, seed-saving and seedling-raising methods for purslane?

Purslane, also called purslane greens, is distributed throughout both northern and southern parts of our country, mostly growing wild. It is a medicinal and edible plant, rich in nutrients. As the value of purslane continues to be developed, more and more of it is being cultivated artificially, so how do you harvest purslane and save its seeds? What are the seedling-raising methods? Let's take a look together below.

1. How do you harvest purslane and save its seeds?

Purslane greens can be sown once and harvested many times. Harvesting is done by selective picking, and picking should be done before flowering to keep the stems and leaves fresh and tender. The newly grown small leaves are the best part to eat, and the tips of the tender stems can be pinched off continuously. Pick mostly from the middle and upper parts, leaving the base of the stems to sprout new shoots so the plant keeps growing, right up until the frost. When harvesting, you can also thin them out, taking the large ones and leaving the small ones.

The capsules of purslane greens mature at different times, and once ripe they split open naturally or scatter their seeds at the slightest shake. The seeds are tiny, so when collecting them you can first spread waste newspaper or plastic film between the rows or between the plants, then shake the plants to let the seeds fall onto the newspaper or film, and then collect them.

2. What are the seedling-raising methods for purslane?

1. Planting method

For growing purslane, the main approach is still direct sowing. In the first year you can collect some purslane from the field. By the second year you can just save your own seed.

Purslane seeds are very small, so when growing purslane you must deep-plough the land and cultivate it carefully and intensively, and keep the soil moist. The suitable temperature for purslane to germinate is around 18 degrees, and the suitable temperature for purslane to grow is around 25 degrees.

Once the temperature is above 20 degrees, you can plant purslane. When planting, you can sow in stages, so that the harvest times differ and the times they reach market differ too. Generally, about ten days after planting purslane, the seedlings emerge.

Many farmers collect some purslane from the field to use as planting material and carry out cuttings. After planting this way, they take root in about a week.

2. Seedling management

After purslane seedlings emerge, after about half a month they can be transplanted for replanting. Before replanting, first cultivate the replanting field carefully and intensively and apply plenty of base fertiliser. The base fertiliser is usually some livestock manure, or compound fertiliser can be used. Then plant them out at a certain density, and after planting, water promptly, which can raise the survival rate of purslane.

When replanting purslane, people generally choose a day without sun, so no shading is needed. If you choose a sunny day, you still need to do some shading work.

The flower buds that purslane forms should be removed promptly, so that all the nutrients can be supplied to the vegetative branches. Later on, purslane needs fertiliser, usually after harvesting, and some thin manure water is enough.

Purslane rarely has any pests or diseases, so growing this wild vegetable requires no spraying.

3. Harvesting

The harvest period of purslane is very long, generally lasting until October, and it can usually be harvested once every half a month. Before flowering, you can collect some leaves 15 cm tall. After flowering, the tender stems of purslane become old, the taste is greatly reduced, and it won't fetch a good price on the market either.

The above is an introduction to purslane. After purslane seedlings emerge, after about half a month they can be replanted. After replanting, do a good job of watering and fertilising. Also note that when replanting, you should choose cloudy weather, so no shading work is needed.

For wonderful pictures and articles and popular comments about purslane, you may be interested in the following recommendations from Nongxun Network, welcome to read.

Agricultural products you may be interested in: High-quality purslane seeds supplied nationwide