Purslane
Portulaca oleracea
Also known as: Common purslane, Verdolaga, Pigweed (regional), Pourpier, Khurfa
Quick facts
- Category
- leafy greens
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Days to harvest
- 35 to 60 days
- Harvest type
- continuous production over weeks or months
- Spacing
- 15 cm between plants
Environment
- Temperature
- 16–32°C
- pH
- 5.5 to 7.5
- EC (hydroponic)
- 0.8 to 1.6 mS/cm
- Daily light
- 14 to 22 mol/m²/day
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 5 to 12 (winter low around -29°C or warmer)
- Frost tolerance
- frost sensitive (dies at first frost)
- Season
- warm (summer crops, frost-sensitive)
Viable growing environments:
- outdoor in growing season (annual)
- unheated greenhouse / hoop house
- heated greenhouse
- indoor (heated home)
- indoor hydroponics under grow lights
USDA zone bounds reflect outdoor year-round survival. Anywhere outside the bounded zone range, this crop still grows as an annual in the warm months (outdoor_seasonal), under cover (greenhouse), or indoors under lights.
Growing systems
Purslane works in:
- deep water culture (rafts)
- NFT channels
- media bed (ebb and flow)
- wicking bed
- soil bed
- vertical / aeroponic tower
Growing media
The substrate the roots sit in. Choice depends on the system (clay pebbles don't fit NFT channels; rockwool isn't used in media beds) and the crop (purslane works in the media listed below).
| Medium | pH effect | Water retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Perlite (Expanded volcanic glass) | neutral / inert | very low | low |
| Rockwool (Mineral wool) | alkaline until pre-soaked | very high | low |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies by source | high | high |
Bacterial surface area matters for aquaponics: clay pebbles, lava rock, and pumice double as biofilter substrate. Low-surface media (rockwool, perlite, pea gravel) work in hydroponics but need a separate biofilter in aquaponics.
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights at each growth stage; the nutrient mix calculator scales them to absolute grams or ml. EC targets shift through the plant's life: seedlings need a much lighter solution than fruiting adults.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC target (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1.2 |
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible with typical aquaponics nutrient profiles. Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth; supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
An extremely easy warm-season hydroponic green. EC 1.0-2.0 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.5 (very adaptable). Temperature: 20–35°C (warm-season; frost-sensitive but thrives in heat that kills lettuce). High light (DLI 16-25 mol/m2/day). Any hydroponic system works. From seed to harvest: 4-6 weeks. The succulent stems and leaves grow rapidly in warm conditions. Harvest by cutting stem tips or pulling whole stems; the plant regrows vigorously. The succulent texture holds up well in salads and provides a satisfying crunch. For Greek-style purslane salad: combine with tomato, cucumber, red onion, feta, olives, and a lemon-olive oil dressing. The omega-3 content provides a genuine nutritional selling point. For commercial hydroponic growers, purslane is a fast, easy, heat-tolerant specialty green with growing consumer awareness driven by nutritional press coverage. Available year-round in warm systems when lettuce production is difficult.
Verified against: u-florida-ifas, rhs-uk, cornell-cea. Last reviewed 2026-05-15.