'Vit' Lamb's Lettuce - Valerianella locusta

'Vit' Lamb's Lettuce – robust variety with tender, nutty leaves. 

This variety is a frost‑hardy lamb’s lettuce with dark green, rounded leaves and a mild, nutty, aromatic flavor. It grows compactly, matures early, and is ideally suited for open field, greenhouse, and container cultivation. Robust, high‑yielding, and open‑pollinated – perfect for self‑sufficiency and ecological farming.

  Origin & History

‘Vit’ is an open‑pollinated lamb’s lettuce, selected in the Netherlands in the 1950s. The breeding goal was a compact, winter‑hardy variety with uniform rosette formation, high cold tolerance, and particular resistance to downy mildew. As a result, ‘Vit’ became one of the most reliable varieties for autumn and winter cultivation and is still widely grown today in both home gardens and commercial horticulture.

Lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella locusta) belongs to the valerian family and is among the oldest cultivated salad greens in Europe. Already in the Middle Ages it was collected as a wild plant and valued as a winter salad. From the 17th century onward, targeted cultivation began, especially in France, where lamb’s lettuce – known as “Mâche” – continues to play a central role. The Nantes region is considered the global center of lamb’s lettuce production. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland it is known as Feldsalat, Vogerlsalat, or Nüsslisalat.

The variety ‘Vit’ is regarded as the reference cultivar for winter‑hardy lamb’s lettuce. It is maintained by numerous seed initiatives as an open‑pollinated alternative to hybrid lines and deliberately preserved as a symbol of the importance of freely accessible cultivated varieties.

  Appearance & Characteristics

The plant grows compactly in a rosette form and reaches a height of about 15 cm. It produces numerous rounded, short‑stemmed leaves and shows high resistance to downy mildew. Winter‑hardy to around -15 °C.

Leaf details:

• Size: Small to medium, approx. 5-8 cm long leaves

• Shape: Rounded to spoon‑shaped, arranged in rosettes

• Color: Dark green, distinctly veined

• Texture: Tender, juicy

• Flavor: Mild, nutty, and aromatic

 Usage & Cultivation Highlights

The leaves are excellent for fresh use as salad, in smoothies, and as garnish. Their mild, nutty flavor and tender texture make them a classic of winter cuisine. They can also be briefly steamed or lightly sautéed as a warm side dish, added to soups and stews, and lend a fine note to green pestos or herb spreads. Popular in diet and low‑carb dishes thanks to their nutrient density and low calories, they are used in modern cuisine in wraps, bowls, and sandwiches, while traditionally valued as a vitamin‑rich addition to winter nutrition.

Thanks to its compact growth and winter hardiness, ‘Vit’ grows reliably in open field, greenhouse, and containers. The variety matures early and produces numerous leaves. It is easy to care for, adapts well to different sites, and delivers stable yields even at low temperatures. Particularly noteworthy are its uniform rosette formation, which allows for easy harvesting, and its high resistance to downy mildew, making ‘Vit’ well suited for ecological cultivation. In addition, it proves robust against changing weather conditions, thrives even on lighter soils, and can be harvested multiple times as the leaves continuously regrow. With its pronounced frost hardiness, it is ideal for late sowings and extends the harvest season deep into winter.

Compared to other lamb’s lettuce varieties, ‘Vit’ is especially winter‑hardy and resistant to downy mildew – ideal for anyone who values open‑pollinated lamb’s lettuce with reliable growth and classic flavor.