miner's lettuce (winter purslane)

Scientific Name: Claytonia perfoliata

Flavour: Miner's lettuce has a mild and slightly tangy flavor. It offers a pleasant and refreshing taste reminiscent of spinach or lettuce, with a hint of sweetness.

Growing Season: Miner's lettuce is a cool-season green that thrives during the winter and early spring. It typically grows from October to April, making it an excellent choice for winter gardening.

Native Region: Miner's lettuce is native to North America and can be found in various regions across the continent, including parts of the United States and Canada.

Traditional Recipe: Miner's Lettuce Salad.

Ingredients:

  • 200g miner's lettuce, washed and dried

  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

  • 100g cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 50g crumbled feta cheese

  • Handful of toasted pine nuts

For the dressing:

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. In a large salad bowl, combine the miner's lettuce, thinly sliced red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted pine nuts.

  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

  3. Drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss to coat.

  4. Serve the Miner's Lettuce Salad as a side dish or as a light lunch.

Health Properties: Miner's lettuce is highly nutritious and offers several health benefits. It is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals such as calcium and iron. Miner's lettuce is also a good source of dietary fiber and antioxidants. Consuming miner's lettuce may support immune function, promote healthy vision, and contribute to overall well-being.

Growing Technique:

Choose a partially shaded spot in your garden or a location that receives dappled sunlight.

Prepare the soil by removing any weeds and loosening it with a garden fork or tiller. Ensure the soil is well-drained and fertile.

Sow the miner's lettuce seeds directly into the soil in late summer or early autumn. Scatter the seeds evenly over the prepared area.

Gently press the seeds into the soil, but avoid burying them too deep. The ideal planting depth is around 0.5cm.

Water the seeds immediately after planting to ensure good moisture contact with the soil.

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged throughout the growing season.

Miner's lettuce thrives in cool temperatures, so it is well-suited for winter gardening. It can tolerate frost but may require protection during extreme cold spells.

Harvest the leaves when they reach a mature size, usually around 4-6 weeks after planting. You can either pick individual leaves or harvest the entire plant by cutting it off at ground level.

Miner's lettuce is a quick-growing green, and you can continue to sow seeds every few weeks to ensure a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.