Cool-season salad green with a mild, nutty crunch
Corn Salad Seeds define a category devoted to a cool-season salad green prized for mild nutty flavor and tender texture. Also known as Lamb’s Lettuce Seeds, Mâche Seeds, Field Salad Seeds, and Valerianella locusta Seeds, this cold hardy leafy vegetable forms neat, rosette forming leaves perfect for baby leaf greens and a mesclun blend. With a gentle, nutty crunch, it performs when temperatures are low, extending the harvest window for winter salad leaves and early spring bowls. Compact habit suits kitchen gardens, raised beds, and patios. As a dependable salad mix ingredient, corn salad offers reliable growth, bolt resistant tendencies in cool weather, and versatile taste.
Cultivation is straightforward: direct sow outdoors in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, and repeat in late summer to autumn for cool-season harvests; in mild climates autumn sowing may overwinter. Partial shade tolerant and content in full sun to partial shade, these plants appreciate cool roots and steady moisture. Succession sowing supports a steady supply, with small rosettes harvested whole or as cut and come again leaves. Corn Salad Seeds lend themselves to container gardening and raised bed growing, keeping growth tidy at close spacing, and thriving in cold frame growing or unheated greenhouse cultivation during chilly spells.
Culinarily, Lamb’s Lettuce (Valerianella locusta) brings a mild nutty flavor that partners well with delicate vinaigrettes, herbs, and other baby leaf greens. Often listed as Cornsalad Seeds, Nut Lettuce Seeds, or Mache Lettuce Seeds, it fits seamlessly into salad mix planning and harvest small rosettes for gentle texture. Corn Salad Seeds are prized for dependable growth, compact stature, and versatility, suiting small spaces as well as larger plots while contributing fresh, cool-season greenery long before heat-loving crops take over.
Lamb's Lettuce (Valerianella locusta)
This list connects this mild, tender salad green to related vegetable seed categories. It starts with the broader Vegetables Seeds collection, then includes neighboring leafy greens and complementary herbs. The grouping supports comparison of flavor, leaf texture, and growth habits, highlighting options suited to cool conditions and quick-cut harvests, and helpful when planning balanced mixes for salads and gentle cooking during periods of moderate temperatures.
Lamb's Lettuce (Valerianella locusta)
A cool-season salad green with mild, nutty flavor and rosette-forming leaves. Grow in full sun to partial shade; in warmer spells it tolerates light shade. Provide a moisture-retentive yet well-drained, fertile soil and keep evenly moist to avoid checks in growth. Direct sow outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in early spring, then again from late summer into autumn for spring and autumn harvests; in mild climates, autumn sowings may overwinter under a cold frame or in an unheated greenhouse. Thin seedlings and space plants to encourage compact rosettes, ideal for baby leaf greens or cut-and-come-again picking.
- Thin to 10–15 cm between plants, with 15–20 cm between rows; harvest small rosettes at 10–20 cm for best texture.
- Use succession sowing every 2–3 weeks in cool weather; relatively bolt resistant, but provide shade and steady moisture in heat.
- Maintain even moisture; a light mulch helps retain water in well-drained beds and keeps leaves clean.
- Suitable for container gardening; choose a wide, shallow pot with moisture-retentive, well-drained mix.
- Edible leaves with a mild, nutty flavor; harvest as baby greens or whole heads for salad mixes and mesclun.
How do you grow corn salad from seed?
Corn salad (mâche, lamb’s lettuce) is a cool season salad green grown best by direct sowing. Prepare a fine seedbed in full sun to partial shade with moisture-retentive, well-drained, fertile soil. Sow thinly in shallow drills and lightly cover with fine soil, then water gently to settle. Keep the surface consistently moist until emergence. Once seedlings establish, thin to allow compact, rosette-forming leaves to develop. Maintain even moisture and steady growth in the cool part of the year to preserve the mild, nutty flavor and tender texture prized for salad mixes and mesclun blends.
When should I sow corn salad outdoors, and is autumn direct sowing suitable?
Sow outdoors in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked for a spring harvest, and again from late summer into autumn for cool-season cropping. Avoid hot spells, as germination and growth are best in cool conditions. In mild climates, autumn sowings may overwinter and resume growth as days lengthen. Direct sow in rows or broadcast in beds, keeping the seed zone evenly moist. Where early frost or sudden cold snaps threaten, a simple cover—such as a cloche or fleece—can help young plants establish for reliable spring and autumn harvests.
Is lamb’s lettuce frost tolerant, and how can I overwinter it under cover?
Lamb’s lettuce is a cold hardy leafy vegetable that tolerates light frosts, making it one of the classic winter salad leaves. Growth may slow or pause in prolonged freezes, but plants often resume when conditions moderate. For overwintering, sow in late summer to autumn and use a cold frame, tunnel, or unheated greenhouse to buffer wind and excess wet. Ventilate on milder days to reduce disease pressure, and keep soil moist but not waterlogged. A breathable fleece in severe cold offers extra protection for compact rosettes without trapping too much humidity.
What is the best spacing and thinning guide for corn salad rosettes?
For full rosettes, thin or transplant to roughly 10–15 cm (4–6 in) between plants, with rows 15–20 cm (6–8 in) apart to encourage airflow and tidy growth. Closer spacing can be used for baby leaf greens, harvested young and frequently. Remove extras early and eat the thinnings. Maintain steady moisture to minimize stress, and avoid overcrowding, which invites mildew and encourages early bolting as days warm. Plants typically reach 10–20 cm (4–8 in) in height; give them space to form dense, harvestable clusters of tender leaves.
Can Corn Salad Seeds be grown in containers, and what care do they need?
Yes—container gardening suits mâche well because of its shallow, fibrous roots and compact habit. Choose a wide container with drainage holes and fill it with a fertile, moisture-retentive yet well-drained mix. Position in full sun to partial shade; in warmer periods, light shade helps maintain quality. Sow thinly and thin to around 10–15 cm between plants. Keep the medium evenly moist, never waterlogged, and feed lightly if growth slows. Succession sowing in cool weather delivers a steady supply for the kitchen garden, balconies, and raised beds alike.
How do you harvest mâche rosettes, how long to maturity, and how to succession sow?
Harvest small rosettes by cutting the whole cluster at the base, or practice cut-and-come-again by snipping outer leaves and leaving the crown to regrow. Many growers find rosettes ready in about 6–8 weeks in cool conditions, though timing varies with temperature, daylength, and spacing. For a continuous supply, succession sow every 2–3 weeks during cool periods, easing off during heat when plants may bolt. Pick in the morning when leaves are crisp, and rinse gently; the mild, nutty flavor shines in salad mixes and alongside other baby greens.
Seeds are sourced from accredited producers with documented traceability and are tested for purity and germination to industry standards. Packaging and labelling follow applicable plant health and quality regulations, with storage managed to protect viability. Guidance provided is general and may vary with local conditions including microclimate, soil, hardiness zone, and hemisphere. Product pages carry specific instructions and regulatory details, which can differ by species, batch, and intended use.
Cool-season salad green with a mild, nutty crunch
Praised for tender rosettes and subtle, nutty flavor, corn salad thrives in cool conditions. Sow seeds shallowly in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or in late summer when nights begin to cool; in mild climates, autumn sowing may be possible. Broadcast or drill in rows, then thin to allow small heads to form. Consistent moisture and well-drained, fertile soil encourage steady growth; partial shade helps as days warm. Germination prefers cool temperatures, and plants tolerate light frost, making this green well suited to shoulder seasons. Harvest as baby leaves for delicate texture, or cut whole rosettes just above the crown for a quick second flush. To extend the window, practice succession sowing at short intervals. Corn salad pairs well with citrus or toasted seeds and adds a silky element to mixed greens. It sits within the broader family of Vegetables Seeds, valued for reliable performance and gentle flavor.
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