Lamb's Ear Pink Woolly

Lamb's Ear Pink Woolly — variety description

Lamb's Ear Pink Woolly (Valerianella locusta) is an annual vegetable of the Valerian family (Caprifoliaceae). Lamb's ear belongs to the genus Stachys, which in turn belongs to the family Lamiaceae.

It originates from the Middle East and the Caucasus. It gets the name lamb's ear because of its soft leaves.

The hairs on the leaves ensure that lamb's ear does not lose too much moisture when it is warm.

It also keeps its leaves through the winter months.

Corn salad (lamb's lettuce) is a tender winter salad with a nutty flavour — it grows at low temperatures when there is nothing else green in the garden.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 81%
• Seeds per packet: 93–127 pcs (0.2 g)
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: September and October; direct
• Harvest: July – November
• Position: sun to partial shade

When to sow Lamb's Ear Pink Woolly

Lamb's Ear Pink Woolly seeds are sown in September and October. The crop is harvested from July to November. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Lamb's Ear Pink Woolly

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 1 cm
• Spacing: 10 cm in the row, 15–20 cm between rows
• Germination: 7–14 days at 10–15 °C
• Position: sun to partial shade

Lamb's ear is best planted in autumn, between September and November. In heavy, clay soil, first work in some sand to make the soil leaner and more permeable. Place potted plants at exactly the same depth at which they sat in the pot. Lamb's ear seeds can be sown directly in the flower bed in April. The seeds of this light-dependent germinator need only a light sprinkling of soil and should be kept evenly moist during the germination phase. This extremely frugal shrub does not require special care and/or fertilisers. Watering is only necessary during prolonged hot periods. The plant should be pruned after flowering in spring.

Sow from August to October; overwinters without problems.

Harvest and use

Cut the whole rosettes in autumn, winter and early spring.

Frequently asked questions

When should Lamb's Ear Pink Woolly be sown?

The recommended sowing months are September and October. Sowing method: direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 93–127 seeds, pack size 0.2 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 81%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.