Claytonia spp.
As a youngster out on a hike on a cloudy March day, I got here throughout a plant that had unusual spherical leaves, every with a stem sticking proper via the center and a tiny white flower on the high. I used to be out attempting to find ghost cities, however I’d discovered one thing far more thrilling.
I’d heard concerning the fabled “miner’s lettuce,” a plant that prospectors carried with them into the gold mines throughout the days of the gold rush in western North America to assist them keep away from scurvy.
Now, let’s be clear. Whereas we don’t have any clear information to verify as a lot, I’d guess my final greenback that these laborers discovered concerning the plant from the native individuals inhabiting the world.
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Native individuals had been consuming the crops for hundreds of years earlier than prospectors began tunneling into the bottom.
Anyway, right here I used to be, a youngster taking a look at these legendary greens, and I used to be so excited that my companions puzzled if I had found literal gold. In my thoughts, it was even higher.
The distinctive leaves made it simple to establish my first foraged greens. I munched tentatively on just a few leaves, and I instantly had the foraging bug.
I loved them a lot, and since I couldn’t all the time rely on discovering them in my suburban neighborhood, I figured I’d have to develop my very own.
Minimize to a couple years later and me begging my mother to cease pulling up the seedlings I’d surreptitiously planted amongst her ornamentals. She insisted they had been weeds, however I knew higher.
Now that I’m an grownup with my very own backyard, I can and do develop this plant each winter and spring in my backyard, and year-round as microgreens on my windowsill.
In the event you’re in search of an unbiased account of miner’s lettuce, I can’t offer you that. I’m unabashedly a fan. However if you wish to learn to develop and take care of this delectable inexperienced, look no additional.
I’ll additionally assist you determine tips on how to forage them when you’re a budding forager like I used to be.
Right here’s what we’re going to speak about:
The quicker we get began, the higher, as a result of my mouth is watering simply serious about the leaves.
What Is Miner’s Lettuce?
Claytonia (previously Montia) species are also called spring beauties, whereas the “miner’s lettuce” time period is reserved for a number of species that develop in western North America, just a few of that are extraordinarily widespread and others which you would possibly solely hardly ever stumble throughout.
These species are all a part of the Montiaceae household, however had been previously categorized within the purslane household, Portulacaceae. They’re intently associated to the succulent crops within the Lewisia genus.
C. perfoliata, also called widespread miner’s lettuce or winter purslane, is discovered rising wild throughout western North America.
The subspecies perfoliata is discovered within the Pacific Northwest and northern California, whereas the subspecies intermontana grows wild within the inside areas as far west because the Rockies. Subspecies mexicana hails from southern California and Mexico and as far east as Arizona.
This species has even hopped over the Rocky Mountains and grows in areas the place it isn’t native, together with Arkansas.
Maybe essentially the most notable attribute of those crops are the leaves. It seems to be just like the flower stalk has punched via the middle of the leaf, which is definitely comprised of two leaves which have fused collectively. This sort of development is named being perfoliate, therefore the species title.
The leaves could be orbicular (spherical) or rhombic (sq.), they usually develop on the finish of lengthy petioles.
The younger leaves are ovate, and transition to cordate (heart-shaped), earlier than taking over their ultimate type.
Tiny white or pale pink flowers emerge in late spring or early summer season. The crops can attain as much as a foot tall in excellent circumstances however will keep shorter if planted in heavy soil or shade.
Figuring out the mature miner’s lettuce is far simpler than the youthful crops, so keep on with foraging the mature crops when you’re new to the sport. Search for these saucer-like leaves with the flower stem rising out of the center.
The one lookalike is greenback weed, aka water pennywort (Hydrocotyle spp.), however the flowers develop on separate stalks, not via the center of the leaves.
Siberian miner’s lettuce (C. sibirica) is discovered on islands within the Bering Strait and from Alaska to the Santa Cruz mountains of California.
The flowers have 5 petals which are white or pink with darkish pink stripes. They seem on the plant as early as February, relying on the world, and might proceed till the autumn.
The shiny, veined leaves are lanceolate when younger, which implies they’re lengthy and slim with a slight flare within the center. As soon as they mature, they turn out to be deltate or triangular, with two leaves per stem. The leaves of this species don’t fuse as they do within the case of C. perfoliata.
This one is somewhat tougher to establish as a result of it has just a few lookalikes, the most typical being pink campion (Silene dioica) when it’s younger and never in bloom.
C. sibirica is extra widespread within the wild in its native vary. However each species are present in most moist, considerably shady areas. It doesn’t matter if it’s a woodland, a discipline, or disturbed websites, if it’s moist, miner’s lettuce is transferring in.
I seize it from the deserted roadside and subsequent to riverbeds close to my home.
Bees, butterflies, moths, and different pollinators love these crops, and the birds will eat the leaves and seeds, as will small mammals.
In scorching, dry climate, the plant dries up and goes dormant till the winter.
A number of different species are typically cultivated or foraged, however they aren’t almost as widespread because the species described above. They’re all edible to a point, although the 2 talked about above are the tastiest.
In western North America, C. lanceolata has fleshy, strappy leaves and appears extra like a desert succulent than a herbaceous inexperienced.
One other western native, C. parviflora, identified by the outdated moniker of Indian lettuce, seems to be almost equivalent to C. perfoliata, nevertheless it grows in drier, hotter areas.
C. rubra, or erubescent miner’s lettuce, seems to be just like C. perfoliata however has pink foliage.
Marsh claytonia, C. palustris, seems to be almost equivalent to C. sibirica.
On the jap facet of the Rockies, jap spring magnificence, C. virginica, grows within the jap half of North America and has related flowers to Siberian miner’s lettuce, however the leaves are lengthy and strappy.
Additionally rising in jap North America, C. caroliniana, or Carolina springbeauty or spring magnificence, seems to be extraordinarily just like C. sibirica and grows in related circumstances. The leaves are simply as flavorful, with the added bonus you can eat the tuberous root as you’ll a potato.
Whereas we’re on the subject, all elements of the Claytonia species talked about listed below are edible, with some species, like C. caroliniana and C. tuberosa having giant, tuberous roots which are fairly tasty. These crops are stuffed with vitamin C, protein, iron, and beta-carotene.
The title Claytonia pays homage to botanist John Clayton, who collected many plant specimens within the 1700s.
Cultivation and Historical past
The story of plant migration in North America has a typical sample.
European settlers introduced crops to North America that they’d collected at residence or from international locations they’d explored, equivalent to China or India, and people crops regularly naturalized of their new location. In some instances, these species turned a downright menace.
However just a few North American native species managed to show particular sufficient to make the journey in the wrong way, from North America to Europe, to turn out to be a standard wild and backyard plant somewhat than only a specimen in a museum. Miner’s lettuce is a type of crops.
Miner’s lettuce was introduced by European explorers again to Europe and has since been launched to different areas like Argentina, Cuba, Australia, and New Zealand, the place it has naturalized.
Scottish naturalist Archibald Menzies normally will get the credit score for bringing the plant to the UK throughout the 1700s, and that’s most likely a very good guess, since he was well-known for accumulating every kind of species.
It’s probably that he introduced some miner’s lettuce on his ships to maintain his crew wholesome. He finally introduced some crops to the Royal Botanical Backyard at Kew in 1794.
From there, residence growers took an interest within the plant and commenced rising it of their residence gardens.
It turned such a significant crop that it’s credited with conserving troopers wholesome within the UK throughout WWII.
Again in its native residence, individuals such because the Kawaiisu, Diegueno, Costanoan, and Mendocino ate the crops, and lots of tribes used C. perfoliata as an urge for food restorer, eye drugs, and for arthritic ache. C. sibirica was used as a hair wash, eye therapy, and for relieving sore throats.
Miner’s Lettuce Propagation
The overwhelming majority of us will develop miner’s lettuce from seed, but when you already know the place a patch is rising, you possibly can divide among the crops and put them in your backyard, as long as it’s authorized to take action.
Let’s begin with the most typical methodology.
From Seed
When sourcing seeds, search for respected sellers. Some areas have been disadvantaged of this pretty ephemeral due to overharvesting by business seed sellers.
Equally, if you’re foraging, be sure to go away sufficient behind so the plant can replenish itself.
Miner’s lettuce seeds germinate finest in cool circumstances when the soil is between 50 and 65°F. You’ll be able to direct sow outside at any time when the soil is between these temperatures, or start seeds indoors.
The seeds will germinate in cooler soil, however they are going to take longer to sprout or stay dormant till temperatures improve.
The place I dwell, the crops emerge from the bottom within the winter when the soil is round 40°F or a bit under – so so long as the soil could be labored and it isn’t too soggy, you ought to be wonderful.
Work some well-rotted compost into the soil in case your soil is considerably sandy or clay.
Sow the seeds half an inch deep and both scatter them or house them about an inch aside. A shallow seed tray works nicely indoors or you possibly can sow instantly outside.
Because the seeds germinate, which occurs quickly – normally inside every week in excellent temperatures – skinny the seedlings to about 4 inches aside as soon as they’re about an inch tall. Eat the newborn greens, don’t waste them.
Give the creating seedlings about six hours of sunshine per day, whether or not that’s daylight or indoors with supplemental light.
Maintain sowing each few weeks for a successive harvest.
In the event you began the crops indoors, wait till they’ve developed at the very least two true leaves after which harden them off for every week earlier than placing them within the floor.
In the event you’ve by no means hardened crops off earlier than, the method is straightforward.
Take the seedlings to the placement the place you’re going to transplant them and go away them there for an hour. Deliver them again inside. The following day, add an hour. Maintain doing this every day for every week.
By Division
You probably have entry to a clump of dwell miner’s lettuce crops, division is a simple course of and a dependable technique to propagate new crops.
Bear in mind, know your native legal guidelines when foraging, and all the time ask permission of property homeowners earlier than taking something.
To divide, take a trowel and dig out a piece of the plant.
It doesn’t matter how giant of a piece you are taking since every stem is a person plant, however attempt to get at the very least just a few stems to make sure sufficient survive the transfer to begin a brand new clump.
You don’t want a large margin, however dig down deep sufficient to get all of the roots.
Maintain the soil across the roots moist as you progress the division to its new space, if needed.
Dig a gap within the floor that’s the identical dimension as the foundation ball you dug up, and place the plant within the gap, and backfill with soil. Water nicely.
Transplanting
I’ve by no means seen miner’s lettuce nursery begins on the market, however that doesn’t imply that there aren’t just a few sellers on the market providing them up.
In the event you discover some, or if you wish to transplant your individual seedlings that you simply began inside, the method is identical.
Work some well-rotted compost into the bottom the place you plan to plant until your soil is already loamy.
Dig a gap about the identical dimension because the rising container. Gently take away the clumps from their present container and decrease them into the opening you made.
Agency the soil up across the clump and water nicely. If the soil settles, add a bit extra.
Develop Miner’s Lettuce
Earlier than you resolve the place to place miner’s lettuce, take into consideration how a lot you actually wish to develop.
In the suitable circumstances, it reproduces quickly and might unfold far and vast.
You would possibly suppose you’re offering it with just a bit partially shady nook in your backyard, however in just a few years, you’ll be digging it out of your driveway and subsequent to the entrance garden.
As well as, when the birds and ants snatch the seeds and carry them, they assist unfold this plant across the backyard.
For most individuals, it’s not an issue. It’s a fairly plant, and it isn’t invasive, it’s simply opportunistic.
I personally harvest all of mine earlier than it units seed within the late spring, and I’ve by no means had it escape.
In the event you’re actually nervous about it spreading, plant in an space with some boundaries, like a raised bed or a container, and harvest earlier than it goes to seed.
Needless to say when you try this, miner’s lettuce may not come again subsequent yr if it’s too heat or dry for too lengthy, and also you’ll must sow new seed.
As long as the climate is cool, miner’s lettuce will develop in something from full shade to full solar in Zones 6 to 9. Temperatures under freezing gained’t trouble them, however something above 70°F is the hazard zone.
These in shadier areas will produce fewer blooms and shall be a bit leggier, however since every stalk solely grows one leaf (or set of leaves), it doesn’t matter how lengthy the petiole is. There’ll simply be extra for the munching.
Though miner’s lettuce is adaptable, it prefers humus-rich soil.
The crops are extraordinarily cold-hardy they usually’re a favourite for gardeners who wish to develop winter crops in a cold frame and even out within the backyard.
They may overwinter in most elements of North America, although they may be buried beneath snow for a part of the time.
Simply as miner’s lettuce will adapt to quite a lot of completely different solar exposures and soil varieties, it’s additionally adaptable with regards to moisture.
When the crops are younger, the soil have to be saved constantly moist. As they mature, somewhat little bit of drought gained’t damage, however attempt to preserve the soil evenly moist.
Don’t trouble fertilizing this plant, although working in a very good little bit of well-rotted compost while you plant gained’t go amiss.
Rising Ideas
- Work in well-rotted compost at planting time.
- Develop miner’s lettuce full solar to full shade.
- Maintain the soil constantly moist.
Upkeep
As the times get scorching, the miner’s lettuce will go to seed after which will die again to the bottom. If you’d like a brand new patch subsequent yr, let the crops go to seed and drop to the bottom naturally.
But when your objective is to forestall miner’s lettuce from going to seed, pluck the flowers as quickly because the temperatures begin climbing over 70°F and the flowers shut.
The place to Purchase Miner’s Lettuce
Bear in mind, you wish to supply seeds from dependable and moral growers in order to not hurt indigenous populations of miner’s lettuce.
You also needs to fastidiously look at the pictures when shopping for as a result of C. sibirica and C. perfoliata are sometimes mislabeled.
A fast web search reveals crops which are clearly labeled as the opposite species.
They develop in related circumstances and style related, although some individuals choose the extra succulent crunch of C. perfoliata.
Miner’s Lettuce, C. perfoliata
C. perfoliata is far more widespread within the business market.
High Mowing Organic Seeds is a dependable vendor that carries C. perfoliata seeds in quite a lot of packet sizes and in bulk.
Managing Pests and Illness
Don’t you simply love a plant that has hardly any issues with pests and illness? Claytonia is fairly powerful.
Slugs and snails and herbivores like rabbits and deer are the most typical pests to observe for.
Until you’ve free-ranging chickens. Don’t even allow them to hear you say the phrases miner’s lettuce.
Herbivores
These crops are tasty, and we definitely can’t anticipate herbivores to disagree.
Deer
Deer will graze on the miner’s lettuce leaves, however until they actually go to city, it’s not a giant deal.
The plant grows proper again fairly rapidly. Nonetheless, when you’d somewhat not share, fencing or netting goes to be your good friend.
Go to our guide for some tips on excluding deer from your garden.
Rabbits
I’ve an lovely little rabbit residing in my outdated greenhouse, and she or he sticks round my city lot, little question, due to all of the tasty treats I’ve in my backyard.
She appears to like the miner’s lettuce, specifically. I don’t thoughts sharing, as a result of I plant a fairly good-sized patch each winter, and there’s greater than sufficient to go round.
However if you wish to preserve the products for your self, plant in a container and preserve the container near your own home. Or use netting to maintain our bouncy pals out.
We now have extra recommendations on how to control rabbits in our guide.
Slugs and Snails
Most of us have handled slugs and snails sooner or later. If the leaves are lacking fully, leaving a naked petiole behind, it’s typically the work of mollusks.
They’ll additionally chew ragged holes within the foliage. I take advantage of pellets to manage them, however we’ve got plenty of different useful techniques for snail control in our guide.
Bugs
Bugs aren’t a lot of an issue. Even when they do go to, the injury they do is normally minimal. The commonest ones to be careful for are:
Aphids
Aphids are sap-sucking bugs within the superfamily Aphidoidea.
They’re fairly widespread within the backyard and feed on most crops. They aren’t a giant deal on miner’s lettuce, inflicting somewhat yellowing on the leaves, however the true drawback is that they unfold turnip yellows virus (TuYV) to the plant.
As soon as they feed on the plant, they’ve already unfold the illness, so prevention is vital. Read our guide to learn how to control aphids.
Purslane Sawfly
The larvae of purslane sawflies (Schizocerella pilicornis) will eat the seeds of miner’s lettuce, denying you a crop the next yr when you depend on self-sowing.
It’s exhausting to inform they’re round until you see the quarter-inch-long, inexperienced larvae that resemble caterpillars.
In the event that they’re current, spray your crops with neem oil or insecticidal cleaning soap.
If you’ll want to choose up a bottle, head to Arbico Organics, which carries Monterey model insecticidal cleaning soap in 32-ounce ready-to-use spray bottles.
Illness
The one illness that harms miner’s lettuce, both cultivated or wild, is turnip yellows virus.
This illness is unfold by aphids and causes the leaves to show yellow between the veins, reddish spots, and distorted development.
There is no such thing as a treatment, so when you see these signs, you’ll want to drag the plant and get rid of it.
It gained’t damage you to eat it, however the leaves gained’t style nearly as good and it could possibly unfold to many species, together with turnips and purslane.
Harvesting Miner’s Lettuce
Miner’s lettuce leaves could be harvested as quickly as they’re giant sufficient in your tastes.
When totally mature, I’ve seen particular person leaves that may attain as much as three inches in diameter, however they’re normally half that dimension.
Siberian miner’s lettuce tastes higher when it’s younger, whereas widespread miner’s lettuce is superb at any stage.
Harvest by slicing the petiole off close to the floor of the soil. You’ll be able to eat each the petiole and the leaf, they style the identical and the petiole is extremely tender.
The flavour is just like spinach however a bit earthier, like a touch of beets, and with a succulent crunch.
Claytonia needs to be eaten instantly after you harvest. It doesn’t retailer nicely in any respect, although you would possibly get just a few days when you put it in a plastic bag within the produce drawer of your fridge.
Recipes and Cooking Concepts
The obvious manner to make use of your freshly harvested miner’s lettuce is by tossing it right into a salad or utilizing the leaves to decorate a sandwich. However we could be extra inventive than that!
The leaves maintain up nicely to temporary cooking, so you possibly can toss them on the final minute into stir-fries, risotto, or to high couscous or quinoa.
You’ll be able to whip them up right into a pesto. I like to cut them and toss them onto pasta or soup. You should use the leaves to make soup, too.
Fast Reference Rising Information
Plant Sort: | Annual or perennial forb | Water Wants: | Reasonable |
Native to: | North America | Upkeep: | Low |
Hardiness (USDA Zone): | 6-9 | Tolerance: | Freezing temperatures, some drought |
Season: | Winter, spring | Soil Sort: | Loamy, wealthy |
Publicity: | Full solar to full shade | Soil pH: | 6.0-7.5 |
Time to Maturity: | 40 days | Soil Drainage: | Effectively-draining |
Planting Depth: | 1/2 inch (seed) | Companion Planting: | Brassicas, lettuce, pansy, viola |
Spacing: | 4 inches | Keep away from Planting With: | Nightshades |
Peak: | 12 inches | Order: | Caryophyllales |
Unfold: | 12 inches | Household: | Montiaceae |
Progress Fee: | Quick | Genus: | Claytonia |
Frequent Pests and Illness: | Aphids, deer, purslane sawfly, rabbits, slugs and snails; turnip yellows | Species: | Caroliniana, lanceolata, palustris, parviflora, perfoliata, rubra, siberica, tuberosa, virginica |
Value Its Weight In Gold
There aren’t many crops that may present diet all through the coldest months.
There additionally aren’t a ton of crops you possibly can forage that style scrumptious as-is, with none cooking, chopping, or dressing.
Possibly you possibly can see why I used to be extra excited to come across this plant than any hard-to-reach ghost city.
I perceive when you aren’t fairly as excited as I used to be, however how do you plan to get pleasure from this delectable delight? Is it destined for a shiny pesto or a delicious salad? Tell us how you want to make use of miner’s lettuce within the feedback part under.
And when you’re looking for a few other leafy greens to hitch your miner’s lettuce, learn these guides subsequent: