The 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 growing in your own garden, some of which offer resistance properties against diseases.
What types of lamb's lettuce are there and what properties do they have?
There are various varieties of lamb's lettuce that can be divided into winter-hardy, non-frost-hardy and disease-resistant categories. Hardy examples include Elan, Gala, Favor and Fit, while Dutch Broadleaf and Medallion are not frost hardy. Mildew-resistant varieties include Elan, Ovired and Verte de Cambrai.
A plant genus with many regional names
The varieties known as 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 winter-hardy and non-frost-hardy varieties
Many varieties of lamb's lettuce are frost hardy, which is why sowing them in flower boxes on the balcony in autumn can be a good idea. However, winter-hardy varieties can also be sown in raised beds or in any sunny spot outdoors in late autumn without any problems in order to achieve rapid harvestability in spring. Examples of suitable varieties for cultivation over the winter are:
- Elan
- Gala
- Favor
- 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
Varieties of lamb's lettuce that are resistant to diseases
Basically, lamb's lettuce is not very susceptible to diseases. However, if the plants are too dry, they can suffer from powdery mildew and if the humidity is high and the growth is too dense, they can suffer from downy mildew on lamb's lettuce. However, you can prevent these diseases if you look for resistant varieties when purchasing. The largely mildew-resistant varieties include:
- Elan
- Ovired
- Verte de Cambrai
Tips & Tricks
When selecting seeds, attention should not only be paid to resistance to diseases 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. A flower can also be desired for lamb's lettuce if it is to sow itself in the same location for the next year.
