5 varieties of lettuce to grow as winter approaches

Rich in fibre minerals and vitamins, salad has a special place on our plates and in our vegetable gardens, whatever the season. As we approach the winter, let's find out together which 5 varieties of salad to grow and our top tips for a successful harvest.

Lamb's lettuce

This is undoubtedly THE winter salad par excellence. It can be sown until October and enjoyed throughout the winter. Verte de Cambrai or Ronde maraichère are delicious and particularly recommended. It is one of the perpetual salads or "cutting salads"; by slicing the plant just above the roots, you can enjoy a new crop a few weeks later.

Lettuce

It has the particularity of being resistant to the cold and does not need any specific protection. Among the many varieties of lettuce, we recommend the : "Brune d'hiver", the : "Rouge grenobloise" or the : "Rougette de Montpellier", which cope perfectly with temperature variations. Luckily, it's also one of the lettuces you can cut, so be careful when harvesting and spare its roots, and it'll repay you generously!

Chicory

Although it is recommended to sow until August, some varieties such as frisée wallonne or escarole are very cold-resistant. In fact, chicory lettuces are more afraid of the heat, which makes its leaves bitter.

Winter purslane

Easy to grow and undemanding, this wild lettuce will flourish without trouble in any type of soil and can be grown during the cold season. In salads, quiches, gratins or even soups, it is tasty and excellent for your health. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it is also used as a poultice for its moisturising, healing and purifying effect.

Winter cress

In the kitchen garden as well as in the garden, this salad is hardy and flourishes easily in all types of soil. It offers a slightly acidic taste, peppery for some, and reveals pretty green and bright yellow foliage that can also make it an ornamental plant.

Our tips for successful salad crops in winter

Always keep a distance of 30 to 40 cm between each salad plant to let them flourish. Remember to mulch your soil to reduce the risk of frost and feed your plants during this harsh season. As lettuces are rather greedy, don't hesitate to enrich your soil at least once a month with homemade nettle purin. Water regularly and, if winter turns out to be harsher than expected, don't hesitate to protect your lettuces under a tunnel. However, winter varieties can withstand temperatures as low as -20 degrees, so don't panic! Check out the sowing calendar to plan your winter season with peace of mind!