Kitchen Garden Forum

Winter purslane has been another success for me this winter. Again, I'm getting to the stage where I'll need this space soon for other things. Which brings me to the question. Winter purslane is great with other leaves in salads. Is there anything else you can do with it, i.e. does it cook well/at all?

I've never come across any recipes but I reckon you could add some to watercress soup if you like that sort of thing. It isn't strong on flavour, it's the crunchy texture that appeals. Are you saving your own seed or do you let it self-seed itself, we are doing better with thinly sown rows and hoe off any volunteers. I note it's still germinating in any wet areas of the polytunnels.

Hi Allan - I'm indebted again. This is my first winter growing winter purslane, having sampled it a year ago from the organic greens stall at our farmers' market. I've got a broad band of it growing under cloches. There are still plenty of seeds left in the packet (stored in the fridge), so I probably won't attempt to save seed this year. I notice that the plants are starting to flower, though - and I gather they can self-seed prolifically...

Prolific could be an understatement! Remember all parts of the plant are edible.
Names are Winter Purslane, Montia Perfoliata, Miners' Lettuce after its use to feed the miners in the Gold Rush.
Allan