Claytonia - Miner's Lettuce

Minimum Seeds per Packet: 150

Packet Weight: 0.5g

Planting Season: Spring

Sowing Method: Direct Seed

Seed Depth: 1/8"

Direct Seed Spacing: 1/2"

Soil Temperature: 40-60 ℉

Days to Sprout: 7-10

Mature Spacing: 4-6"

Sun Requirement: Shade/Partial Shade

Frost Tolerance: Frost Tolerant

Days to Harvest: 40

When to Seed Claytonia

Claytonia is a cool weather crop that can be a perennial in certain zones. Direct seed claytonia up to four weeks before your last frost date. It may die back in the heat but it can be reseeded again for a fall harvest. 

Where to Plant Claytonia

Claytonia prefers shaded areas, or partial shade and loves damp soil that is rich in organic matter. However, it will tolerate a wide range of conditions. 

Growing Claytonia

Soak the seeds in water overnight ahead of planting. Sow seeds ⅛ inch deep and about ½ inch apart. As they germinate and grow, thin the seedlings to four to six inches apart. Keep soil consistently moist to ensure good germination. 

Harvesting Claytonia

Greens will be ready to harvest in about 40 days from planting. Pick individual stalks or leaves, or cut whole plants. Plants can typically support multiple harvests.

Claytonia, or Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) will flower as the days lengthen and temperatures rise in summer. To collect seeds, cut whole seed stalks when the pods start to turn brown and place them on newsprint or paper towels indoors. It's a good idea to put them inside a large bowl or container too, since the seed pods burst as they dry out and can fling seeds up to a foot or two! Once the seeds have separated from the pods, separate out any chaff using screens or sieves, or by winnowing. Store seeds in a cool, dark, and dry location and use them the very next growing season, since claytonia seeds don't keep for an extended time period.