Also known as corn salad, lamb's lettuce is a low-risk, self-pollinating winter salad crop -- the main skill in seed saving it is simply catching the small, easily-missed seed heads before they dry out and drop.
New to terms like isolation distance or outcrossing? See the Seed-Saving Glossary.
Seed-Saving Difficulty
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Safe to Save
Low crossing risk.
How It's Pollinated
Self-pollinating, with some insect visitation
(Low crossing risk)
Scientific name: Valerianella locusta
Domestic Crops It Can Cross With
- Other lamb's lettuce varieties, if grown -- most gardeners grow a single strain
Wild Relatives & Feral Species
- Wild Valerianella relatives exist in some regions and could cross if present nearby
Separation Distances Required
Minimum: 25m as good practice
Recommended: 50m for extra security
Strict: Not usually needed
Seed-Saving Strategies
- Let plants bolt and flower once the weather warms
- Allow the small seed heads to dry fully on the plant
- Harvest before seed shatters -- check regularly once heads turn brown
- Store dry -- viable 3-4 years