Lamb's lettuce is known by names such as rapunzel, nutlets or lamb's lettuce. The plant proves to be undemanding and forms delicate leaf rosettes that taste nutty and are rich in vitamin C.
Lamb's lettuce is a weak eater and only needs a little fertilizer
soil claims
The lamb's lettuce varieties planted come from the original species Valerianella locusta. This valerian plant is native to Europe, populating fallow land and vineyards. The demands on the soil are unspecific. Lamb's lettuce prefers to grow on pure, heavy loamy soil. Mixtures with sand are also accepted. Ideal growth conditions provide fresh and base-rich substrates.
Fertilizer recommendations
Lamb's lettuce is one of the weak consumers. It thrives as a follow-up crop on harvested vegetable beds. The leftover nutrients from the predecessors provide the perfect nutritional basis for the crop. Fertilization is usually not necessary. If you want to grow seeds and cultivate the plants in the bucket, you can use normal potting soil and mix it with some compost.
Overwintering lettuce
Overwintering seeds are an exception because they value an additional supply of nutrients in late winter. From February, fertilize the crops with nitrogen. This represents an important basis for the growth of the plants, as it is needed for the development of healthy leaves and shoots. It is also a building block of chlorophyll and protein. A quantity of 50 grams of solid fertilizer per square meter is sufficient.
How to fertilize properly:
- Work in organic vegetable fertilizer (7.49€) between the rows
- put some compost in the substrate
- alternatively administer organic fertilizer with the irrigation water
Pre-, mixed and post-culture
Lamb's lettuce should be sown in the same location for a maximum of three to four years in a row. If lettuce or legumes have been harvested from the bed, Rapunzel is not recommended as a follow-up crop. The varieties grow as secondary crops of tomatoes, potatoes, kohlrabi, cucumbers or strawberries. In mixed cultures, lamb's lettuce thrives between onions, leeks and rhubarb. You can also sow the healthy plant as a pre-culture in the greenhouse.
Lamb's lettuce as green manure
It is a real insider tip that lamb's lettuce has fertilizing properties and is used as green manure. If the leaves are too old in spring or the plants form flowering shoots, you can simply rake the bed. The plant parts are decomposed and the soil is enriched with nutrients.