'Dutch Broadleaf' Lamb’s Lettuce - Valerianella locusta

'Dutch Broadleaf' Lamb’s Lettuce – winter‑hardy variety with large, broad‑oval, dark‑green leaves. 

This variety is a vigorous lamb’s lettuce with strong, broad‑oval leaves and rosette‑like growth. It has a mild, nutty, aromatic flavor and convinces with reliable winter hardiness. Fast‑growing, high‑yielding, and open‑pollinated - ideal for autumn and winter cultivation as well as for self‑sufficiency in organic gardening.

  Origin & History

'Dutch Broadleaf' is an open‑pollinated lamb’s lettuce variety that was developed in the Netherlands in the mid‑20th century through targeted selection. This type features particularly large, broad‑oval leaves and pronounced winter hardiness, making it well suited for cultivation during the cooler months. The name refers both to its origin and to the morphological characteristics of the variety. It is considered a vigorous, high‑yielding, and frost‑tolerant type, distinguished by its ability to form stable rosettes even at low temperatures.

Thus, 'Dutch Broadleaf' is a reliable variety for autumn and winter cultivation and quickly spread in Dutch and later international vegetable production. Today, the variety is regarded as a historic traditional cultivar of the 20th century, noted for its robust nature and adaptability to different sites. It stands as an example of the importance of freely accessible cultivars in vegetable growing and is still maintained and distributed as a proven classic for winter cultivation by ecological preservation initiatives.

  Appearance & Characteristics

The plant grows in a rosette shape and reaches a height of about 15 cm. It develops large, broad‑oval, dark‑green leaves with vigorous growth. It shows reliable winter hardiness and is frost‑tolerant down to about -15 °C.

Leaf details:

• Size: Large, large‑leaved

• Shape: Rosette‑shaped, broad‑oval

• Color: Dark green

• Texture: Juicy, tender

• Flavor: Mild‑nutty, aromatic

 Usage & Cultivation Highlights

The leaves are excellent for fresh consumption as salad and as a crisp side dish. Their mild, nutty flavor and tender texture make them a classic of autumn and winter cuisine. They pair well with herbs, nuts, mushrooms, and robust dressings, and are also popular as a decorative base or in combination with warm ingredients such as bacon or mushrooms. In combination with potatoes, grains, or legumes, lamb’s lettuce unfolds its mild spice and contributes to balanced, nutritious meals. In fine dining, 'Dutch Broadleaf' is often used as a garnish for fish and meat dishes, as its dark‑green leaves provide both visual contrast and a harmonious flavor. Thanks to its good post‑harvest shelf life, it stays fresh for a long time and is also suitable for short storage in the winter kitchen.

Thanks to its winter hardiness, the variety 'Dutch Broadleaf' grows reliably outdoors, in greenhouses, and even in pots. It is easy to care for, adapts to different sites, and delivers stable yields even at low temperatures. Its uniform development allows for staggered harvesting over several weeks. As a low‑nutrient feeder, it is also well suited as a companion crop in the bed. In addition, it convinces with its rapid juvenile development, which enables quick stand establishment. Even with denser sowing, it shows good stand density and uniform rosette formation, making it particularly attractive for professional cultivation and self‑sufficiency.

Compared to other lamb’s lettuce varieties, 'Dutch Broadleaf' is especially large‑leaved and robust – ideal for anyone who values open‑pollinated lamb’s lettuce with reliable growth and nutty‑aromatic flavor for autumn and winter cultivation.