Cuban Claytone organic

Organic Cuban Claytone ( Claytonia perfoliata ) – offered by Gaia, a tender and cold-resistant green

Also called miner's lettuce or winter purslane , Cuban claytone is a tender-leaved plant prized for its mild, slightly sweet flavor . Highly nutritious , it is rich in vitamin C , which made it an essential food for gold prospectors during the California Gold Rush, helping to prevent scurvy.

This hardy, cool-season plant grows rapidly in early spring and fall, producing a luscious carpet of greens perfect for salads, sandwiches, or as a garnish . Shade-tolerant , it fits well under taller crops, along the edge of a vegetable garden, or in a woodland garden.

Did you know?

Cuban Claytone can survive temperatures down to -7°C , making it one of the few winter salads available in cool climates. Its succulent, crunchy texture gives it a slight spinach note , while being sweeter and juicier.

Spread : Creeping habit, natural ground cover
Plant height : 10 to 20 cm
Quantity per pack : ± 500 seeds
Companion plants : White trout lily, wild leek, wild geranium, liverwort, wild blue phlox, may-pod, Solomon's seal, prairie trillium, *man's breeches
Enemy plants : —

* ?? Man's Breeches ( Dicentra cucullaria ) is a wild North American plant also called hooded dicenter or Dutchman's breeches in English. Its name comes from the original shape of its white flowers which resemble… long panties turned inside out hanging on a clothesline! ??

It is a perennial plant that grows in humid, shady forests , often alongside Cuban Claytone. It is prized for its delicate flowers and finely cut foliage , but be careful: it is toxic for human and animal consumption!

So, grow it for beauty, not for salad! ??

Cultivation method

Sow directly in early spring , as soon as the soil can be worked (usually late April ).

Plant seeds 0.5 cm deep in moist, well-drained soil in partial shade . Thin seedlings to 10-15 cm spacing to encourage good development.

Cuban Claytone is cold hardy and self-seeds , allowing for extended harvesting without effort.

Harvesting and conservation

Young leaves and stems are best before flowering , when they are tender and juicy .

Regular harvesting stimulates new shoots and prolongs production. Once harvested, Cuban Claytone can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag , placed in the vegetable drawer.

Why grow Cuban Claytone?

? Cold hardy, ideal for winter and early spring crops
? Mild and slightly sweet flavor, crunchy and juicy texture
? Shade tolerant, perfect for understory growing
? Reseeds naturally, for a sustainable harvest

With its rapid growth, robustness and delicate freshness , Cuban Claytone is an original alternative to traditional salads , ideal for vegetable gardens in cool climates!