Purslane in Zone 11a & 11b
Portulaca oleracea sativa
Yes, purslane grows in zones 11a and 11b. Start seeds indoors Dec 11–Dec 18 and plant out Jan 1–Jan 8.
When to plant purslane in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Dec 11–Dec 18 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 1–Jan 8 |
| Estimated harvest | Feb 20–Feb 27 (~50 days after planting) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-8 in.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of purslane in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Flower SproutsDec 18–Dec 25
- Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)Dec 18–Dec 25
- KalettesDec 18–Dec 25
- KomatsunaDec 18–Dec 25
- Bok ChoyJan 1–Jan 8
- Daikon RadishJan 1–Jan 8
Purslane has a genuine identity crisis: most gardeners spend years pulling it as a weed before realizing the same succulent, mildly citrusy leaves are a legitimate salad green, and a cultivated selection exists specifically bred for eating.
How purslane fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Purslane planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 29–May 6 | May 20–May 27 | Jul 9–Jul 16 |
| 3a & 3b | May 9–May 16 | May 30–Jun 6 | Jul 19–Jul 26 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 24–May 1 | May 15–May 22 | Jul 4–Jul 11 |
| 5a & 5b | Apr 19–Apr 26 | May 10–May 17 | Jun 29–Jul 6 |
| 6a & 6b | Apr 4–Apr 11 | Apr 25–May 2 | Jun 14–Jun 21 |
| 7a & 7b | Mar 20–Mar 27 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | May 30–Jun 6 |
| 8a & 8b | Mar 4–Mar 11 | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 14–May 21 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Feb 22 | Apr 6–Apr 13 |
| 10a & 10b | Jan 9–Jan 16 | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 21–Mar 28 |
| 11a & 11b (your zone) | Dec 11–Dec 18 | Jan 1–Jan 8 | Feb 20–Feb 27 |
Harvest dates are about 50 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for purslane.
Where to buy purslane seeds
High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's purslane seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing purslane" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Purslane in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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