Winter lettuce 'Baquieu' (Lactuca sativa) organic seeds
- Historic, frost tolerant butterhead lettuce variety from France for overwinter cultivation and very early spring harvest. <ai>
- Open pollinated seeds from organic cultivation - seed packet with approx. 250 seeds. <ai>
- Organic winter lettuce for autumn sowing, cold frame, polytunnel or open ground - robust lettuce variety with red green heads and a mild nutty flavour. <ai>
€2.99
Description
Historic winter lettuce for very early harvests
The winter lettuce 'Baquieu' is one of the classic winter lettuces of European horticulture. This old French variety was already described around 1885 and was specifically bred for overwinter cultivation. Today it is considered a rare heritage variety that is increasingly appreciated again, especially in organic gardening.
'Baquieu' forms medium-sized, compact heads with a loosely upright growth habit. The leaves show an attractive red-green to greenish-red colouring - often more reddish on the outside and lighter and more tender inside. The taste is pleasantly crisp and mild, with a slightly nutty note that is somewhat stronger than that of classic butterhead lettuces.
This variety is particularly valued for its winter hardiness. Young plants can be sown in autumn and overwinter as small rosettes in the bed, in a cold frame or in a polytunnel. As soon as temperatures rise in early spring, the lettuce continues to grow quickly and provides fresh heads very early in the year. This makes 'Baquieu' one of the most reliable varieties for overwinter cultivation and for an early supply of fresh garden lettuce.
The leaves are excellent for fresh salads, mixed leaf salads and as a fresh side dish. Traditionally, winter lettuces were also used as a vegetable and were cooked in soups or stews.
Plant profile
| Use | Vegetable, Winter vegetables |
|---|---|
| Lifecycle | Annual |
| Species | Asteraceae |
| Seed propagation | Bio |
| Characteristics | Loved by slugs and snails, Needs darkness to germinate |
| Eventual height | 15-30 cm |
| Flower colour | Yellow |
| Flowering months | August, July, June |
| Main harvest | April, March, May |
| Root system | Shallow roots |
Growing instructions
| When to sow outdoors | April, March, October, September |
|---|---|
| Sowing depth | 0.5 cm |
| Germination temperature | 10-18°C |
| Germination time | 1-2 weeks |
| Climate | Temperate |
| Soil type | Free-draining, Humus-rich, well-loosened |
| Sunlight | Full sun, Halbschatten |
| Water requirement | Medium |
| Nutrient requirements | Light feeder |
| Planting distance | 25 cm |
| Row spacing | 30 cm |
| Good companion plants | Basil, Beans, Beetroot, Carrots, Cucumber, Dill, Kohl, Maize, Onions, Peas, Radish, Strawberries, Tomatoes |
| Bad companion plants | Celeriac, Parsley |
Sowing and care
Sowing & care of winter lettuce 'Baquieu'
Winter lettuce prefers a sunny to bright location with loose, humus-rich and well drained soil. The classic sowing for overwinter cultivation takes place in September or October directly in the open ground, in a cold frame or in a polytunnel. The young plants overwinter as small rosettes and quickly develop harvest-ready heads in early spring. Alternatively, spring sowing from March to April is also possible. Lettuce seeds are sown about 0.5 to 1 cm deep and only lightly covered with soil. After germination the young plants can be thinned or transplanted to about 25 cm spacing in the row and around 30 cm between rows.
The soil should be kept evenly moist, but waterlogging must be avoided. As lettuce is a light feeder, a layer of compost before planting is usually completely sufficient. 'Baquieu' is therefore particularly suitable as a follow-up crop after heavy feeding vegetables. In colder regions, a light protection with fleece or brushwood is recommended during very strong frosts. The heads are harvested once they reach full size - usually very early in spring or around 80 days after a spring sowing.
Other names
Botanical name: Lactuca sativa
German: Kopfsalat, Wintersalat, Winterkopfsalat, Butterkopfsalat,
English: lettuce, butterhead lettuce, winter lettuce
French: laitue pommée, laitue d'hiver
Italian: lattuga, lattuga invernale
Spanish: lechuga, lechuga de invierno
Dutch: kropsla, wintersla
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