Verdolaga (Portulaca oleracea) or Purslane

[ogfor]

High omega-3 fatty acids weed growing worldwide. Cultivated in many countries, you simply broadcast seeds in early summer, or just disk fields already invaded with common purslane to encourage a uniform crop of Verdolaga and make space for planting or transplanting other plants around, like corn, tomatoes, groundcherry, Mora, berries, trees, medicinals, even mushrooms. Purslane is used in salads, soups, sauces, preserves and supplements.

Verdolaga in Montreal

As a companion plant, Purslane provides ground cover to create a humid microclimate for nearby plants, stabilizing ground moisture. Its deep roots bring up moisture and nutrients that those plants can use, and some, including corn, will "follow" purslane roots down through harder soil than they can penetrate on their own. It is known as a beneficial weed in places that do not already grow it as a crop in its own right. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_oleracea#Companion_plant

Glistrida Greek salad with common Purslane, also known as Verdolaga http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Glistrida_Greek_salad.JPG From a restaurant in Mohlos, Lasithi prefecture. Source Own work by Author Lemur12 Date:06-2008

http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Verdolaga.cfm