Lamb 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 cold frames all year round in mild temperatures, including now in February, and harvest the fresh, home-grown lettuce in spring.
How do you grow lamb's lettuce in a cold frame?
To grow lamb's lettuce in the cold frame, choose frost-resistant varieties, sow them in grooves 10-15 cm apart and cover them with soil. They prefer moderately moist soil, little fertilizer and sunny locations. Harvest takes place after approx. three months.
Sowing
Choose varieties suitable for winter cultivation such as “Vit”, “Accent” or “Dutch broadleaf”.
- Draw grooves in the cold frame that should be 10 to 15 centimeters apart.
- Place the seeds thinly about one centimeter deep.
- Cover the seeds with a fine layer of soil and press it down.
- Finally, water well.
If you don't scatter the seeds too densely, you can save yourself having to separate them later.
The ideal location
Lamb lettuce prefers moderately nutrient-rich, dry soil and a sunny spot. The cold does not harm the hardy plant, but it germinates and grows much more slowly.
Watering and fertilizing
Lamb lettuce loves it moist, but not too wet. Therefore, water only moderately.
There is hardly any need to fertilize, because the remaining nutrients from previous cultures are sufficient for the lamb's lettuce. If necessary, you can support growth with some organic vegetable fertilizer (€19.00 on Amazon) in small doses.
On mild days, open the cold frame a little to provide ventilation. This prevents fungal infestation.
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 in.
How can you avoid the entire lettuce being ready to harvest at once?
Lamb lettuce germinates and grows quite evenly. This can result in all lettuce plants reaching harvest size at the same time. To avoid this, you should mark the rows in the bed and sow them one to two weeks apart as needed.
Lamb lettuce is used to improve the soil
Since the delicious vegetable develops many roots that help improve the soil, the lettuce plant is often used as a green manure. Ideal for getting the soil in the cold frame ready for the new gardening season.
Tip
Lamb lettuce is also very suitable as a secondary crop on potato beds or in the tomato house. If you plant lamb's lettuce plants in the fall after the tomato harvest, you can have fresh lettuce throughout the winter.
