Corn salad V. de Cambrai

Valerianella locusta - V. de Cambrai

This is a leafy vegetable grown for its oval leaves that emerge from a ground rosette. It reaches a height of 20 cm. The leaves are entire, oblong and lanceolate. Flowers grow in cymes. The leaves have a delicately sweet, nutty taste. They contain large amounts of vitamin C and A, folic acid, as well as vitamins B1, B2, E, rutin, potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium. It is used to prepare salads, spinach, soups and beverages.

How to Grow Lamb's Lettuce

• Corn salad withstands light frosts down to -5°C. The optimal germination temperature is 15-17°C. It requires a sunny location. Regular watering is needed; it tolerates drying out poorly.

• Seeds are sown several times a year. Thanks to the short growing season, we can sow in spring, ideally February, and also in July. Sow 1-2 cm deep in rows 10-15 cm apart, from mid-September to the end of October under glass in rows 8-10 cm apart.

• The lighter the soil, the shorter the growing season. It requires slightly acidic pH.

• Basic fertilizer dose: N - 60 kg/ha, P - 40 kg P2O5/ha, K - 100 kg K2O/ha. When growing in containers, fertilize with water-soluble fertilizer - Cererit, Kristalon.

• Due to the short growing season, pests are not significant. If we grow the salad in beds, it may be threatened by slugs. These are best removed by hand picking.

• Either only the leaves are harvested, or whole plants are tied into bundles, cut just below the soil surface. Harvest as needed.