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How to Grow Shepherd's Purses UK | Regional Planting Calendar

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How to Grow Shepherd's Purses UK | Regional Planting Calendar guide thumbnail

Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

Shepherd's purse rosettes growing in cracks between paving stones — “Capsella bursa-pastoris 110180114” by Alexis is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

2 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Plant
Early March to early April
Site
3+ hours of sun, soil pH 5–7.5
Biggest risk
White blister

In the UK, shepherd's purses go in the ground early March to early April.

Shepherd's purses (Capsella bursa-pastoris) — annual or biennial.

Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from early March in Southern England to early March in Scotland.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.

Regional Planting Calendar

Shepherd's purse rosettes growing in cracks between paving stones — “Capsella bursa-pastoris 110180114” by Alexis is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Capsella bursa-pastoris 110180114” by Alexis is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Region Sow
Southern England early March to early April
Midlands early March to early April
Northern England early March to early April
Scotland early March to early April
Southern England - detail & sources

RHS: sow 6mm deep in early spring, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Midlands - detail & sources

RHS: sow 6mm deep in early spring, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Northern England - detail & sources

RHS: sow 6mm deep in early spring, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Scotland - detail & sources

RHS: sow 6mm deep in early spring, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Quick Facts

Close-up of shepherd's purse's small white flowers — “Capsella bursa-pastoris 128793631” by mister_bumble is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Capsella bursa-pastoris 128793631” by mister_bumble is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Factor Value
Soil pH 5 - 7.5
Sunlight 3-3 hours direct sun
Soil texture chalk, clay, loam or sand (RHS)
Drainage well-drained
Lifecycle annual or biennial
Edible parts leaves, seeds, flowering shoots, root

At a Glance

Shepherd's purse rosettes growing in cracks between paving stones — “Capsella bursa-pastoris 110180114” by Alexis is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Capsella bursa-pastoris 110180114” by Alexis is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's Purse White blister DISEASES

Soil & Growing Conditions

A mass of shepherd's purse growing in open ground — “Capsella bursa-pastoris 15-p.bot-capse.bupa-21” by Ayotte, Gilles, 1948- is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Capsella bursa-pastoris 15-p.bot-capse.bupa-21” by Ayotte, Gilles, 1948- is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Water: moist but well-drained or well-drained (RHS)

Soil pH range

5 7.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

A single shepherd's purse stem showing its distinctive heart-shaped seed pods — “Capsella bursa-pastoris 128897239” by Michel Langeveld is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Capsella bursa-pastoris 128897239” by Michel Langeveld is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stage BBCH Notes
Sowing 0 Sow seed 6mm deep in early spring; self-sows readily once established (RHS, Alibaba Gardening).
Rosette formation 1 Forms a rosette of toothed leaves, often overwintering (RHS).
Flowering 6 Tiny white flowers bloom spring through autumn on stems to 50cm (RHS).
Seed pod / harvest 8 Distinctive heart-shaped seed pods follow; harvest leaf rosettes at ~10cm for salads before flowering (RHS, PFAF).

Harvest & Storage

A hand holding a flowering shepherd's purse shoot — “Capsella bursa-pastoris 109927620” by Alexis is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Capsella bursa-pastoris 109927620” by Alexis is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: Harvest rosettes at around 10cm height for salads, before flowering, for the mildest cress-like flavour; leaves also usable cooked (cabbage-like taste). Seeds can be ground for flavouring; root can be dug fresh or dried as a ginger substitute (PFAF).

Diseases

Close-up of shepherd's purse's small white flowers — “Capsella bursa-pastoris 128793631” by mister_bumble is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Capsella bursa-pastoris 128793631” by mister_bumble is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
White blister
low

Albugo candida

RHS names this directly: may be susceptible to white blister.

References

  1. Leaves, seeds and flowering shoots are edible, raw or cooked. Before flowering, young leaves can be added to salads; rosettes are best harvested at around 10cm height. Leaves and flowers taste cress-like raw or cabbage-like cooked. Seeds can be ground and used for flavouring in soups; fresh or dried root can substitute for ginger.

  2. A tough, annual or biennial plant producing a rosette of toothed leaves, with tiny white flowers blooming spring through autumn, followed by distinctive heart-shaped seed pods. Native to GB/Ireland. Hardiness H6 (hardy in all of UK and northern Europe, -20 to -15C). Full sun or partial shade. Soil: chalk, clay, loam or sand; acid, alkaline or neutral pH; moist but well-drained or well-drained. Height 0.1-0.5m, spread 0-0.1m. Time to maturity 1 year. Produces vast quantities of seed throughout the year; seedlings self-sow readily and are easily removed if unwanted. Generally pest-free. May be susceptible to white blister, a leaf disease affecting Brassicaceae plants. Also serves as food for small birds.

2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sow shepherd's purses in the UK?

In Southern England, from early March. In Scotland, wait until early March. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.

When do I sow shepherd's purses?

Sow early March to early April.

What soil pH do shepherd's purses need?

A pH of about 5–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect shepherd's purses?

Our data links 1 disease to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team

UK vegetable growing guides · Checked against RHS & Met Office guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real UK growing conditions, and reviewed against Royal Horticultural Society growing advice and Met Office climate data before publication.

Vegetable Growing Guides UK

Last verified 2026-08-29

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