Purslane is a weed, at least it is considered a weed. A weed is a deleterious label for such a lovely plant that is hearty enough to grow in so many climates and survive the harshest summers.
I am experimenting with the best techniques. From the beginning, the purslane grew well when water was added. At first, it grew larger than the specimens I saw in the parks nearby, but I gave it more water than the parks afforded, so this was expected. However, the limbs of the purslane continued to be on the ground.
I added a shade structure given the intense heat in Arizona, and the purslane lifted from the ground and reaches for the sky now. Of course, plenty of water continues. Now I am experimenting with harvesting and growing it from new transplants, seed, and grafting. What I have learned is that the plant grows thicker and grows a larger leaf after harvesting, when compared to the transplanted purslane.
The taste is equal in quality, but potentially juicier and maybe a little less intense given the added water. Regrowth is definitely thicker when the plant has been harvested to its root; but, I am seeing growth from seed and grafting that is similar to the post-harvest regrowth. Thus, I believe the right growing conditions will foster a thicker, juicier, and more robust plant that has less in common with its wild counterparts in terms of its physical features.
Regrowth after harvesting. You can see the thickness of the plant stems and new growth.
Recently transplanted is in the upper right quadrant and one week post transplant is front and center and upper left quadrant. The plant recovers remarkably well.
New growth after harvesting the entire plant. As you can see, the plant grows upward rather than along the ground; this is true even for the transplants after about a week in the ground with extra water than the purslane would normally receive in nature.
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