Winter Purslane

Miners' Lettuce

Claytonia

Winter leaves Spring leaves & flowers

(rotate as brassica)

Not called for our canny pityyakkers, I'm afraid, but rather for the Californian GoldMiners, as this plant originated in the US, growing in the shady parts of the desert areas. It grows well in the UK, particularly in sand soils, but will tolerate heavy soil as long as it does not become waterlogged.

It is a perennial, very hardy, and will provide salad leaves practically all year round. Hickmott describes the leaves as "succulent and juicy, with a pleasant crispness".

Sow: Late August/ early September or Spring.

Shade loving, so purslane is an excellent plant to grow in those troublesome shady areas under trees etc.

Sowing can be done by simply broadcasting and lightly raking in the seeds, or it can be sown in rows about 20 cm apart. Make a very shallow drill and cover with a sprinkling of soil.

Seeds are small and light, so mixing with a little sand as for carrots may help.

Care: Very little required, apart from weeding. For good large leaves, thin the plants to about 10cm apart.

Harvest: Snip leaves from plant with knife or scissors as soon as they are large enough. Do not remove too many from any one plant. The flowers which appear in the spring can be eaten with the surrounding leaf.

Pink Purslane

Very similar to Winter Purslane, and often seen in the ornamental rock garden, this hardy perrenial can be eaten as a salad leaf or lightly steamed.