Lamb's lettuce is very easy to grow and can even be harvested in the cold season. Since it contains more vitamin C and iron than lettuce, it should not be missing from any kitchen garden. You can sow frost-resistant varieties in mild temperatures all year round, including February, in the cold frame and harvest the fresh, home-grown lettuce in spring.

Lamb's lettuce can be sown in the cold frame as early as February

sowing

Choose varieties suitable for winter cultivation, such as "Vit", "Accent" or the "Dutch broad-leaved".

  • Draw grooves in the cold frame that should be 10 to 15 centimeters apart.
  • Place the seeds in a thin layer about an inch deep.
  • Cover the seed with a fine layer of soil and press down.
  • Finally water well.

If you don't scatter the seeds too densely, you can save yourself the trouble of separating them later.

The ideal location

Lamb's lettuce prefers moderately nutrient-rich, dry soil and a sunny spot. The hardy plant is not harmed by the cold, but it germinates and then grows much more slowly.

Water and fertilize

Lamb's lettuce likes it moist, but not too wet. So only water moderately.

Hardly any fertilizer is needed, because the remaining nutrients from previous cultures are sufficient for lamb's lettuce. If necessary, you can support growth with a small amount of organic vegetable fertilizer (€7.49).

On mild days, open the cold frame a little to allow ventilation. This prevents fungal attack.

Harvest lamb's lettuce

Depending on the temperature, you can harvest the first lettuce after about three months. Cut off the leaves with a sharp knife or kitchen scissors, you can leave the roots in the ground and chop them up.

How to avoid that the whole lettuce is ready to be harvested at once?

Lamb's lettuce germinates and grows fairly evenly. This can result in all the lettuce plants reaching harvest size at the same time. To avoid this, you should mark the rows in the bed and sow them at intervals of one to two weeks, as required.

Lamb's lettuce is used to improve the soil

Since the tasty vegetable develops many roots that help improve the soil, the lettuce plant is often used as a green manure. It is therefore ideal for preparing the soil in the cold frame for the new gardening season.

tips

Lamb's lettuce is also very suitable as a follow-up culture on potato beds or in the tomato house. If you plant lamb's lettuce plants in autumn after the tomato harvest, you can fall back on fresh lettuce throughout the winter.

Category:

Vegetable garden