If You Can't Beat 'Em, Eat 'Em - Purslane

Weeds are the bane of every gardener, but did you know that many are edible and very healthy? The common weed known as Purslane (Portaluca oleracea) is one of those. It is pretty much guaranteed that this plant is somewhere in your landscape and it is a power plant in more ways than one.

Purslane is an opportunistic plant and grows in nearly every country in the world. It has been cultivated for over 4000 years both for food and for its medicinal qualities. It is easily identified by its prostrate habit and succulent-like leaves that resemble those of a miniature Jade plant; about fingernail sized. The stems are reddish and radiate from a central point. The side stems can also root, so there may be several radians in the same plant. The taste is described as slightly tart, salty, and similar to spinach or watercress. Believe it or not, it has been found to have more beneficial nutrients than most vegetables! It is described as a "superfood" and one of the most nutritious foods on the planet.

There are some great ways to use this superfood in your kitchen. The leaves and stems are edible and can be prepared in many ways, both raw and cooked. But remember, as with all vegetables you eat, ensure that the product is clean and free from pesticides or herbicides. Give this “weed” a place on your table at least once and try it. Remember, if you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em! Especially when they are so good for you! While an internet search will yield many recipes, following are a couple I have prepared and enjoyed.

Purslane Salad With Grilled Corn and Avocado Dressing (Click here for recipe)

Verdolaga - Purslane Cooked Greens (Click here for recipe)

Meet the Mason Bees

Once you know the mason bees, you may want to invite them to your slice of earth to help counter the negative effects of declining honeybee colonies. Encouraging mason bees could be an important step in ensuring that some of our fresh foods continue to be available and affordable. Orchardists and home gardeners can raise them.

Mason Bees (also known as Orchard Bees) are exceptional pollinators. Pollen collects on their bellies rather than on their hind legs. Masons work with mud to build and seal their nests in naturally occurring gaps such as between cracks in stones or other small dark cavities. They also readily accept premade nests of hollow tubes or bee houses placed by the small gardener. Only use nesting materials that allow you to open, inspect, and harvest cocoons. Visual inspections can greatly reduce predator populations. Watch out for a new predator, the Houdini Fly.

Each female bee tends to its own brood. The first brood cells that the bee makes (those that are furthest back) will develop into female bees, while the ones closer to the entrance of the nest will become males. Scientists believe that bees do this for one of two reasons: males need to emerge first. They gorge themselves with food while they wait for new females to hatch, they mate, and then they die. Females are much more important to the reproduction of a species. Putting the males as a barrier increases the survival and fitness of the species. 

The favorite food for their brood includes anything that flowers in spring and some nectar. They generally travel only short distances from their nesting site for nectar sources (around 200 to 300 feet is normal). Females collect this food, bring it to their nests and knead it into a ball, mixing it with nectar and their saliva. When the food store is big enough, they lay an egg on top of this mass and seal-off the chamber or cell with mud. Then they go to work on the next cell. The larvae grow and by the end of summer, metamorphose into pupae and later into adults, which remain safe and sound inside the nest until the next spring. They begin emerging when temperatures reach 50 to 55 degrees. 

Mason Bees are pollinators that are worth some time and effort. Attract them to your garden, provide them a place to nest, and keep them coming back.

Don't Move Firewood!

Transporting firewood is one of the 
most common methods for 

introduction of damaging pests 

such as Mountain Pine Beetle, 

Gypsy moth, and Thousand 

Cankers Disease. By “buying it 

where you burn it”, you can play 

an important part in protecting our natural and urban forests.

Mountain Pine Beetle

Gypsy Moth

Thousand Cankers Disease

Some important things to consider before buying firewood 

include :

• Do you know where the wood was cut? 
• Never transport or burn wood from out of state. 
• If available, purchase local firewood. 
• Firewood is often available at the camping location. 
• Leave any unburned wood in place. Do not transport it. 
• Know if the wood is treated, kiln dried or debarked. 
• Know what species of wood you are burning. 

 For more information, contact your local University of Idaho 

Extension Office!

Too much sun for my tomatoes?

Of course, tomatoes need sunlight but as with most everything, there can be too much of a good thing. Sun scald is common in plants(video) that are suffering from leaf loss from a leaf spot disease, insect damage, or over-pruning. The problem often occurs when defoliation or pruning of leaves is heavy. Sun scald results in a pale yellow to white spot on the side of the fruit facing the sun, this area may become a flattened, grayish-white spot. The surface may dry out to a paper-like texture. Sun scald spots are frequently invaded by decay-causing fungi and bacteria that further rot the fruit.

There are several biological and physical methods to reduce sun scald damage. One simple approach is to identify and plant sunburn-resistant cultivars (that produce more foliage or that have a fruit color that reflects more sunlight). Second, use good agricultural practices to grow healthy plants because good leaf cover will naturally shade the fruit. Provide adequate water, fertilizer, and monitor plants closely for insects and diseases that can cause defoliation or leaf curling. Large healthy leaves provide good shade if the fruits set and grow within the plant canopy. Over-pruning can also lead to sun scald if too much of the leaf canopy is removed and the fruits are subject to direct sun.

Shade cloth is a highly effective option to reduce sun scald. Tomatoes are most susceptible to sun scald at the mature-green stage and somewhat susceptible at the immature-green stage. When tomatoes turn red, they are more resistant to sun scald. Shade cloth can be applied earlier but waiting until fruit set ensure plants grow to their maximum vegetative capacity before sun scald protection is needed. Shade cloth is available at garden centers or online. Before purchasing, evaluate the percent of light reduction. For most fruits and vegetables, 20 to 40% shade is ideal. For a home garden, create a simple frame around tomato plants using wood or row cover hoops, then drape with shade cloth and securely attach to the structure. A structure that is open to the east will allow the plants to receive morning sun.

Now enjoy those healthy tomatoes straight from your garden!