Purslane does have a disposition to reseed itself . While the cultivated variety is not as invasive as its wild relative , it can still be quite prolific when it come to self - seeding .
I have in person experienced this in my own garden . I ab initio embed purslane as a ground cover in a sunny spot , attracted by its down in the mouth - maintenance qualities and its edible leaves . It grew quickly and form a dense flatness , in effect conquer weeds and adding a splashing of green to the area . However , I before long noticed that newfangled seedling were pop up all around the original plants .
This reseeding behavior can be both a boon and a condemnation . On one handwriting , it means that you do n’t necessarily have to replant purslane every year . Once you establish it in your garden , it will probably keep on to reseed itself and come back year after yr . This can be specially useful if you need a consistent ground book binding or if you enjoy having purslane as a food reference .
On the other manus , the teemingness of seedling can become overwhelming if you ’re not careful . If leave unchecked , purslane can cursorily take over an domain and push out other plants . I ’ve had to deplume out numerous purslane seedling to forbid them from stifle nearby flowers and vegetables .
To manage purslane ’s reseeding tendencies , there are a few strategy you may employ :
1 . on a regular basis harvest the seed heads : By transfer the seed heads before they have a fortune to mature and drop their seeds , you’re able to reduce the number of new seedlings . This can be done by simply snipping off the flowering stems or by on a regular basis glean the matured leaves before the works has a chance to blossom .
2 . Thin out seedlings : If you acknowledge a thick patch of purslane seedlings , you could thin them out by carefully perpetrate out some of the excess plants . This will provide the continue seedling to have more space to grow and cut competitor .
3 . Stay vigilant : Keep an centre out for purslane seedlings and remove them as presently as you spot them . This will prevent them from install themselves and becoming more difficult to control .
4 . Utilize mulch : Adding a layer of mulch around your purslane plants can help suppress the germination of new seed and reduce the number of seedling that emerge .
While purslane is not as trespassing as its wild relation , it does have a inclination to reseed itself . This can be both good and challenging , depending on your gardening goal and preferences . By employing strategies such as harvesting seed heads , melt off out seedlings , stick wakeful , and using mulch , you may manage purslane ’s reseeding tendencies and happen upon a balance between its benefits and potential drawbacks .
Caroline Bates
