Should You Cut Back Purslane?

Harvest the purslane stems by collecting the stem, but don't cut too short to enable regrowth. Better to harvest young purslane stems, since the leaves are more delicious. The younger the purslane leaves, the more they melt in your mouth.

How do you prune a purslane plant?

To make Portulaca/Purslane bushy, you will need to trim off the growing branches. Trim off three to four inches of the stems using a sharp gardening knife. Using a gardening glove is always recommended while dealing with thorns, sharp tools. The best time for pruning Portulaca/Purslane is the end of May.

Can purslane be cut back?

The entire plant can be harvested or the stems can be cut back to within two inches of the crown and the plant will regrow, providing edible leaves for most of the summer (although successive sowings may be preferred for more tender young leaves).