Purslane

11 years ago

I need advice on controlling Purslane in my vegetable garden. This is my first season gardening. We moved to northern Utah last fall. The lady we bought our house from was an avid gardener and has nice raised beds. We had planted a few things already and I have seedlings going in starter cups. We just went out of town for two weeks and came home to beds FULL of Purslane. :( We covered the plants that are already planted, sprayed it down with Round Up, and broke it up with a rake. I hand pulled it from two of the beds that only had a small bit (those beds have a lot more already planted - I assume that prevented the purslane from spreading as much).

Any advice on what has been effective in controlling purslane while allowing me to continue planting/growing? Thanks for your help!

Featured Answer

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL

11 years ago

As an annual, if you prevent it from dropping a new crop of seeds, you should have very little next year. Raking it off of the surface periodically should take care of that, very shallow roots.

This diminutive, prostrate plant shouldn't hinder anything else growing around it, just dig a hole as if it wasn't there & plant whatever else you'd like. It will add a lot of good organic matter to the soil over winter.

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Comments (10)

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years ago
Purslane is a commonly grown edible. If you don't want to eat it, that's fine, but it would make a fine ground cover under taller plants, shading the ground, protecting it from baking in direct sun. Its' growth habit is prostrate. Why would you put RU where you intend to grow edibles?
dbarron
11 years ago
And if you intended to eat it, it would probably shrivel and die in no time (with no pesticide...just intent).
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Jodi Willey
Original Author
11 years ago
From what I read, it appears to be very invasive and hard to get rid of. I have no intention of eating it and want to clear space for transfers in the future. I only used round up in one bed and was planning on using that bed for late season crops.
dbarron
11 years ago
I find them tasty and tart, when I can find enough to harvest (harder than you'd think).
Jodi Willey
Original Author
11 years ago
What part do you eat? The leaves?

Tiffany... I see your in Opp! I've driven trough there many times. We just moved from the Destin/FWB area to Utah. I also have a good friend who Is from Opp! :)
dbarron
11 years ago
Basically any non-tough part...
kimmq
11 years ago
Keeping in mind that the World Health Organization has labeled glyphosate products as potential carcinogens using it may be hazardous to your health.

If you sprayed the Purslane and immediately pulled it out you just wasted a lot of money since the poison had no time to work. It takes several days for that product to get into the plant and kill it.

A simple way to control "weeds" like Purslane is a good mulch plunked down over them. I have put 4 to 6 pages of newspaper over Purslane, Chickweed, etc. many times to control them with good results. Sometimes newly deposited seeds form these will germinate in the mulch, however.

kimmq is kimmsr
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years ago
Hey, that's cool! For such a small town, a lot of people "know" Opp. Sounds like a huge move, wow! Hope you are enjoying your new place (aside from that pesky purslane. :+) )
redtartan
11 years ago
I've eaten it many times as well. It's pretty good fried. However, since you already spray it with round up you definitely don't want to eat it.

The good thing is they are very easy to pull at that young stage like you have. It's work but easy.