WINTER PURSLANE OR CUBAN CLAYTON AB
Claytonia perfoliata
Small, low, spreading annual with fleshy, tender leaves used in salads or cooked, producing small white flowers in clusters. Ideal for growing in pots or in a small space in your vegetable garden. Mild flavor. From the same family as purslane, Cuban claytonne tolerates cold very well, down to -20°C if well established and protected, it will ensure a production of fresh shoots in winter and spring. Sowing: in place from April to September, (sow from June to August only in regions with mild summers), or from November to December under cover. Sowing these very fine seeds, on the surface, broadcast or in rows spaced 25 cm apart, on well-refined and watered soil. Lightly cover the sowing and water with a very fine rain. Keep the soil cool until emergence. Exposure: sunny to partial shade. Soil: Well-drained and non-calcareous. Cultivation: Thin young plants to 15 cm at the 4-leaf stage. Water regularly to maintain moist soil and ensure regrowth. Harvest: 2 to 3 months after sowing, before flowering. Two harvests are possible; cut the young leaves carefully to avoid uprooting the plant.
