Grow fresh greens in the cooler part of the year with approximately 100 Miner’s Lettuce seeds, Claytonia perfoliata. Also called winter purslane, this small leafy annual produces tender, mildly flavored foliage and distinctive round leaves around its flower stems. It is a useful addition to spring and fall salad gardens.
Why Grow Miner’s Lettuce?
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Cool-season greens: A good choice when summer vegetables are winding down or before warm-weather crops take over.
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Flexible harvest: Pick tender leaves for mixed salads or briefly wilt them in cooked dishes.
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Small-space friendly: Its compact growth fits containers, raised beds, and small patches of garden soil.
Growing Tips
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When to sow: Direct sow in early spring, or late summer through fall as temperatures cool. In mild regions, plants can continue through winter.
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Seedbed: Sow about 1/4 inch deep in fine soil. Keep the surface moist until seedlings emerge.
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Spacing: Thin plants to around 2–3 inches apart for repeated leaf cutting, or give them more space to develop individual rosettes.
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Light and water: Choose sun in cool weather or light shade, with moisture-retentive soil that drains freely.
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Harvest: Cut tender leaves while leaving the growing center intact for further growth. Monitor plants as the weather warms; flowering and decline are part of this crop’s seasonal cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as common summer purslane?
No. This listing is Claytonia perfoliata, a cool-season green, rather than Portulaca oleracea.
Will it grow well in summer heat?
Miner’s Lettuce prefers cool, moist conditions. Heat encourages flowering and can bring the crop to an end.
Does it come back every year?
It is generally grown as an annual but can reseed where conditions suit it. Remove flowers before seeds mature if you want to limit volunteers.
