Purslane in Zone 5a & 5b
Portulaca oleracea sativa
Yes, purslane grows in zones 5a and 5b. Start seeds indoors Apr 19–Apr 26 and plant out May 10–May 17.
When to plant purslane in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b 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 | Apr 19–Apr 26 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 10–May 17 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 29–Jul 6 (~50 days after planting) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-8 in.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of purslane in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- CabbageApr 26–May 3
- TomatoMay 24–May 31
- Bush BeansMay 17–May 24
- Sweet CornMay 17–May 24
- LettuceApr 26–May 3
- CucumberMay 17–May 24
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 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Purslane needs about 50 days from sowing to first harvest.
Purslane planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b 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 (your zone) | 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 | 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 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Purslane in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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