Lamb’s lettuce 'Verte de Cambrai'

Valerianella locusta

A very cold-resistant type of lettuce with soft, spoon shaped leaves, suitable for autumn and winter harvest. Also called mache and French corn salad (as it originates from north-west France). Harvest leaves or pull the whole plant (it will not come again if the entire plant is cut). Harvesting the entire rosette will keep longer, if not to be eaten right away.

Can be sown in autumn under glass or in a greenhouse for harvest very early in spring next year. It has a very good taste and the plants can withstand freezing and thawing a few times. Eat fresh as a salad or prepared as spinach. Thrives in a humus-rich, moisture-retaining and well-drained soil. Water regularly.

Mache contains more nutrients then regular lettuce, among others vitamins A, C, E & B6 as well as iron, potassium & calcium. Because of this, together with it's ability to grow under conditions most greens won't tolerate - it was actually used as a natural remedy to prevent scurvy!

Avoid watering the leaves of the plant, as it is susceptible to gray mold and powdery mildew. Winter cover if possible.

Direct sowing: July to Sept.

Sow depth, cm: 1

Harvest: Sept - April

Spacing: 10-15 cm / 1 plant per GreenStalk pocket

Location: Sun, partial shade

Number of seeds: approx 30