2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Purslane (Latin Portulaca) - flower culture; an annual or perennial plant of the Purslane family. In nature, purslane grows on sandbanks, along river banks, in weedy places and in fields. The homeland of the plant is South and North America. Some types of purslane are cultivated in Russia and neighboring countries. More than 100 species are currently known.
Common types and their characteristics
* Large-flowered purslane (lat. Portulaca grandiflora) - the species is represented by perennial plants with creeping or erect light green or reddish-green stems, pubescent over the entire surface. Large-flowered purslane is cultivated as an annual, especially in the Ural climate. The leaves are juicy, fleshy, alternate, cylindrical, up to 2 cm wide and up to 2.5 cm long. The flowers are medium-sized, simple or double, 5-7 cm in diameter, can be yellow, white, orange, pink, lilac or red in color. Sepals are brightly colored, accrete at the base. The fruit is a polyspermous capsule. Large-flowered purslane blooms from June to October. Flowers open only in sunny weather, with the exception of the Sundance, Sunglo and Cloudbeater varieties. The people call this type "rug", and this is due to the fact that plants, quickly spreading, create bright and blooming "rugs".
* Garden purslane (Latin Portulaca oleracea) - the species is represented by cosmopolitan plants, with juicy, reddish, hollow, highly branched, elongated or creeping stems. Leaves are sessile, fleshy, oblong, spatulate, with truncated edges, 1, 5-3 cm long. Flowers are small, light yellow, single or collected in inflorescences of 2-5 pieces. The calyx is formed by two sepals. Corolla consists of 4-6 obovate petals, up to 7-8 mm in diameter. Garden purslane blooms in June-August.
Growing conditions
Purslane prefers intensely lit areas. In the shade, plants develop slowly and practically do not bloom. Soils for growing purslane are desirable loose, moderately moist, poor, sandy with a neutral pH. On fertile soils, plants quickly build up a voluminous and dense green mass to the detriment of flowering. The rest of the purslane is unpretentious.
Reproduction and planting
Purslane is propagated by seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush. Most often, the plant is grown through seedlings. Sowing seeds is carried out in seedling containers in March. The seeds are not covered, but evenly laid over the soil surface. Purslane seeds are small enough, therefore, for a more even sowing, they are mixed with fine-grained sand.
Standard potting mixes are not suitable for growing seedlings as they contain peat that inhibits germination. It is best to use a substrate consisting of garden soil and river sand. The soil before sowing is disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Crops are moistened, covered with glass or polyethylene and taken out into a warm room with an air temperature of 22-24C. You can keep crops near the batteries. With the appearance of 2-3 true leaves on the seedlings, the seedlings dive in separate containers. Seedlings are planted in open ground in late May - early June.
Often, purslane is propagated by cuttings. Healthy planting material for the winter is harvested in a cool place, and in the spring, cuttings 5-6 cm long are cut and planted in the ground before rooting. Then they are transplanted to a permanent place.
Care
Purslane needs regular and moderate watering, especially during drought. Stagnation of water in the near-stem zone should not be, the plant has an extremely negative attitude to waterlogging. Purslane is one of those crops that does not like feeding, it develops well without them. The culture is very rarely affected by diseases and pests. If fungal diseases are detected, the plants are sprayed with any approved fungicidal preparations containing copper.
Application
Purslane is a flowering ornamental plant used to decorate flower beds, flower beds and other types of flower beds. The purslane is indispensable as a soil-growing plant; under favorable growing conditions, it can easily replace a lawn that does not require cutting and at the same time pleases with its flowering throughout the entire gardening period. Plants look great in flowerpots, containers, as well as on rocky areas. Purslane is ideal for planting at the joints of concrete slabs, on retaining walls and dry slopes.
The type of purslane garden is actively used in oriental cuisine. The plant contains a large amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. It goes well with meat dishes, looks great in vegetable salads. Purslane is especially good in collaboration with cucumbers. The plant is also used in folk medicine: for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the kidneys, liver and eyes.
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Large-flowered Purslane
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