Winter Purslane - Miners Lettuce

[Bren In Pots]

Does anyone grow this for a winter crop I've had a look on Google and all it says is that its frost resistant and you can eat the flowers so I was wondering what does it taste like.

[LonghornGardens]

Sowed mine a few months ago and it is setting seed right now. It is supposed to reseed itself, but this was my first time to grow it. It should be one of the first greens to sprout in the Spring. I ate two leaves from mine just to see what it tasted like. I really can not describe it. It did however remind me of cactus I once ate. I liked it and look forward to eating it again.

[zazen999]

I love it. Claytonia. I sow lots in the autumn, plant them out in neat rows all winter and it keeps the ground covered whilst providing salad greens all winter. It flowers in the spring and sets seed, which then muck up my rows but do I care? Not one jot!

It's hard to describe but it's a very pleasant - quite juicy - leaf. Cactus is quite a good description of the texture though.

[Feral007]

Oh I'd forgotten about Purslaine. I must get some! Need something green here in winter.

[donnakebab]

I've got a packet of seeds ready to sew in the autumn.

Does anybody know if it needs any protection or can you just let it do it's own thing?

[Florence Fennel]

I put some of this in my salad seed mix. I shouldn't have - it flowered really quickly. I suppose I should have taken more notice of it's name! Will be overwintering it this year. Sounds like it doesn't need protection Donna.

[Bren In Pots]

Thanks everyone I'll order some

[veggiechicken]

Just had a bag of this in my veg box and was surprised at how nice it was Too late to sow any now but did any of you grow it this winter?

[zazen999]

To be honest VC - once you have it, leave it to set seed and it grows itself. It germinates once the days start shortening and you can leave it to itself. I have a tray of it which I have now taken to the community gardens to set seed as we really want loads of it next winter. You can dig it up and move it where you want or need it and in a poly it grows well all winter long.

[veggiechicken]

I like self seeding veggies, zaz One to sow in the autumn though?

[zazen999]

I like self seeding veggies, zaz One to sow in the autumn though?

Yeah - once the days start shortening [ie after the end of June]

This was some in my beds last winter [December 2011] inbetween the winter lettuces.

[veggiechicken]

Time for a note in the diary Thanks

[scorpius]

I always forget winter stuff, please post when the time is near

[zazen999]

I always forget winter stuff, please post when the time is near

Yeah sure. Anything else you want us to remind you about? Time to get yourself a diary I think.

[veggiechicken]

I never did get around to sowing Winter Purslane aka Miner's lettuce aka Claytonia.

Is anyone growing it this winter and can recommend it please?