- A genus of plants with many regional names
- The distinction between hardy and non-frost hardy varieties
- Disease-resistant varieties of lamb's lettuce
- tips and tricks
Lamb's lettuce is also found in wild species in meadows and fields; it actually belongs to the valerian family. Various varieties are available as seeds for cultivation in your own garden, some of which offer resistance properties to diseases.
A genus of plants with many regional names
The varieties grouped under the name lamb's lettuce have always been valued as an important winter salad on the menu in various regions of Central Europe. Valerianella, commonly known as lamb's lettuce, is also known in Austria as Vogerlsalat, in Lower Franconia as Hasenöhrchen, in Switzerland as Nüsslisalat and in Central Hesse as Rawunze. However, all terms always refer to the same plant genus, which can also be harvested in your own garden almost all year round.
The distinction between hardy and non-frost hardy varieties
Many varieties of lamb's lettuce are frost hardy, which is why sowing them in flower boxes (€16.99) on the balcony in autumn can also be a good idea. However, winter-hardy varieties can also be sown in raised beds or in any sunny spot outdoors without any problems in late autumn, in order to be able to harvest quickly in spring. Suitable varieties for cultivation over the winter include:
- panache
- Gala
- favour
- Fit
On the other hand, other varieties are not frost hardy and are more recommended for sowing in spring and harvesting throughout the summer, these are:
- Dutch Broadleaf
- medallion
Disease-resistant varieties of lamb's lettuce
Basically, lamb's lettuce is not very susceptible to diseases. However, the plants can suffer from powdery mildew if the weather is too dry and from downy mildew of lamb's lettuce if the humidity is high and growth is too dense. However, you can prevent these diseases by looking for resistant varieties when you buy them. Varieties that are largely resistant to powdery mildew include:
- panache
- Ovired
- Verte de Cambrai
tips and tricks
When selecting the seed, attention should not only be paid to disease resistance and frost hardiness. There is also a distinction between varieties for spring and autumn cultivation. If early varieties are sown in midsummer, they can sometimes tend to bolt. However, lamb's lettuce can also be in bloom if it is to sow itself in the same location for the next year.
WK