Corn Salad (Lamb’s Lettuce) ‘Gala’

Corn Salad (Lamb’s Lettuce) ‘Gala’ Seeds

(Mâche — Valerianella locusta)

Corn Salad Gala is a proven, vigorous, compact variety with dark green, round leaves, suitable for early sets and year-round growing. The seeds are precision calibrated with an increased germination capacity.
Common names include Lamb’s Lettuce, common cornsalad, mâche, fetticus, feldsalat, nut lettuce, field salad, and valerian salad. The common name Cornsalad refers to the fact that it often grows as a weed in cornfields. In some areas of Germany, it is known as Rapunzel and is the origin of the long-haired maiden’s name in the eponymous fairy tale.

Cornsalad grows in a low rosette with spatulate leaves. In mild climates it is grown as a winter green.
French settlers brought the plant to North America in the early 1800s. Thomas Jefferson was growing corn salad at Monticello and recorded saving seed in 1794. Its mildly nutty tasting leaves were especially valued as a winter lettuce when other lettuces are rare.

There are over two hundred Mâche varieties grown worldwide, each varying in flavor, quality, and hardiness. There are two main seed types that have been developed in modern cultivation: small-seeded and large-seeded. Small-seeded Mâche is typically grown in cold weather, while large-seeded Mâche is cultivated in warmer months.
Corn Salad has nearly three times the value of vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin B6, iron, and potassium as lettuce.

In the Gulf garden, Corn Salad Gala occupies a valuable and somewhat unique position — it is a rapid-cycling cool-season salad green that thrives in exactly the period when Kuwait’s growing conditions are at their most reliable and mild. While it is typically considered a cold-climate winter specialty in Europe, Kuwait’s cool season from October through April provides extended warm-but-not-hot conditions that allow successive sowings every 2 to 3 weeks to maintain a continuous supply of fresh greens throughout the productive half of the year.

Variety Details

• Gala is a proven, vigorous, compact variety with dark green, round leaves suitable for early sets and year-round growing.
• Seeds are precision calibrated for increased germination capacity.
• Sativa Valerianella locusta is a member of the Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle) family.
• Plants form low rosettes of spoon-shaped spatulate leaves 3 to 8 cm long, 5 to 10 cm tall overall.
• Days to maturity: 45 to 60 days from sowing to first harvest.
• Germination temperature: 10 to 18 degrees Celsius.

Key Features

• Proven compact vigorous variety — dark green round leaves with excellent germination.
• One of the fastest-maturing cool-season salad greens — 45 to 60 days.
• Mild, nutty, velvety flavor — different from all other lettuces and salad greens.
• Exceptionally nutritious — nearly 3x the vitamin C, beta-carotene, B6, iron, and potassium of standard lettuce.
• Direct sow in succession every 2 to 3 weeks for continuous harvest.
• Hardy cold-tolerant plant — thrives in Kuwait’s mild winters.
• Can be used as whole rosettes or cut-and-come-again.
• Excellent in salads, as a bed for proteins, in sandwiches, and blended into smoothies.
• Easy and low maintenance. Suitable for raised beds, containers, and intensive production.

Plant Information

• Family: Caprifoliaceae.
• Botanical name: Valerianella locusta.
• Common names: Corn Salad, Lamb’s Lettuce, Mâche, Fetticus, Feldsalat, Field Salad, Nut Lettuce, Rapunzel, Doucette.
• Cultivar: Gala.
• Type: Cool-season annual.
• Days to maturity: 45 to 60 days.
• Plant height: 5 to 10 cm.
• Rosette spread: 8 to 15 cm.
• Leaf: Small, spoon-shaped spatulate, dark green, 3 to 8 cm, soft and velvety in texture.
• Flavor: Mild, nutty, slightly sweet-herbal, distinctly different from lettuce.
• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade — afternoon shade beneficial in warmer temperatures.
• Water: Moderate — consistent moisture; does not tolerate drought.
• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile; prefers loose, loamy soil.
• pH preference: 5.5 to 7.0.

Seed Germination

• Germination temperature: 10 to 18 degrees Celsius.
• Germination time: 7 to 14 days.
• Sowing depth: Surface sow, lightly pressing seeds into the soil.
• Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
• Important note: corn salad seeds have a temperature-sensitive dormancy — germination is best at soil temperatures of 10 to 18 degrees Celsius.
• At temperatures above 20 to 22 degrees Celsius, seeds may enter a dormancy state and fail to germinate.
• In Kuwait this means sowing is most reliable from September through February when temperatures are within the optimal range.
• For Gulf home gardeners:
  direct sow seeds shallowly onto prepared, moist, fine-textured soil or seed tray.
• Barely cover with 3 to 5 mm of fine compost — do not bury deeply.
• Patience is necessary as mâche can be slow to germinate.
• Keep soil consistently moist until germination, which usually takes 7 to 12 days.
• Underwood Gardens Sow densely and thin to 8 to 10 cm apart once seedlings are established.

Growing Tips

• Direct sow mâche in the fall for warmer climates.
• Soil temperature should be between 10 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius for the best germination, but no higher than 21 degrees Celsius as the seeds start to go dormant.
• Sow by broadcasting the corn salad seed and lightly covering them with 3 to 6 mm of soil.
• Keep soil consistently moist until germination.
• Full sun is needed for best germination.
• Succession planting every two weeks prolongs the harvest.
• Mâche grows equally well in humid and arid climates with consistent soil moisture.
• Harvest entire rosette or individual leaves as they reach edible size.
• Harvest entire plant when flower head starts.
• To preserve 2 or 3 weeks, pop into a plastic bag and refrigerate.
• Space plants or thin to 8 to 12 cm apart for best rosette development.
• Plants can grow 5 to 10 cm tall.
• Premier Seeds Direct Fertilize lightly once after thinning with a balanced fertilizer — corn salad does not require heavy feeding. Avoid waterlogging.
• Keep soil consistently moist but well-drained. Harvest by cutting the entire rosette at the base or remove outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again approach.
• Wash thoroughly before use as the low-growing leaves can trap soil particles.
• Harvest before plants bolt to flowers in warming spring temperatures.

Gulf Planting Season

• Sow directly in raised beds, containers, or garden beds: September through February.
• Successive sowings every 2 to 3 weeks for continuous harvest throughout the cool season.
• Expected harvest: 45 to 60 days after each sowing — October through April.
• Note: Corn salad seeds enter dormancy at soil temperatures above 20 to 22 degrees Celsius.
• Sowing in Kuwait is most reliable and productive from late September onward when soil temperatures have moderated.
• The long mild cool season from October through April provides an extended window for multiple successive sowings and a sustained continuous harvest of fresh salad greens.

Culinary Uses

• Mâche has a tangy, succulent, green, and nutty taste suited for raw preparations.
• The greens must be thoroughly washed before consumption as they can hold particles of dirt and sand.
• Once cleaned, mâche can be tossed into salads and is favored for its ability to hold dressings and oils on the leaf’s deeply
• veined surface, distributing flavor throughout the dish.
• The leaves are used as an accouterment to appetizer plates and first courses or served fresh as a bed of greens for cooked meats and vegetable dishes.
• Corn salad is excellent used as a tender young green as a highlight in salads.
• Its mild and a bit nutty taste and juicy texture make it a great counterpoint for other leafy greens.
• Corn salad is delicious in a mixed salad with a splash of olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar.
• In the Gulf kitchen, Corn Salad Gala brings a uniquely European gourmet salad character to the winter table.
• Serve as a classic French-style salad with roasted beets, walnut oil, and balsamic vinegar.
• Use as a fresh bed beneath grilled fish or chicken.
• Mix with rocket, spinach, and herbs for a sophisticated winter salad bowl.
• Layer in sandwiches and wraps for a tender, mild green that holds up to dressings.
• Add whole rosettes to mezze platters as a fresh, mild contrast to more assertive flavors.