Valerianella locusta

Available for purchase from 1 July 2025  

Corn Salad Louvier’s, also known as 'Coquille de Louviers', is a classic French heirloom variety cherished for its sweet, nutty flavour and exceptional cold tolerance. With origins tracing back to the gardens of Louviers, France, this robust variety has long been a favourite among European kitchen gardeners. Its round, spoon-shaped leaves form compact rosettes that remain tender and lush throughout winter, making it an essential crop for off-season harvests and leafy greens.

This variety is typically enjoyed raw in salads, where its mild, buttery texture pairs beautifully with vinaigrette and citrus. It adds depth and contrast when combined with stronger greens like rocket or chicory. Known for its gentle sweetness and lack of bitterness, Louvier’s is a prized component of winter and early spring meals and can also be lightly steamed or stirred into warm dishes at the last minute to preserve its delicate flavour.

To sow, plant Corn Salad Louvier’s at a shallow depth of just 1cm in cool, moist soil. Seeds prefer a temperature range of 10–18°C and will germinate within 10–14 days. Direct sowing in late summer through early autumn is ideal for South African gardens, allowing the plants to establish before the first frosts. It is frost hardy and thrives without additional protection in most regions, but will benefit from row covers or a cold frame in very cold inland areas.

Culturally, Corn Salad Louvier’s prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil enriched with compost. It does not require heavy feeding and is well-suited to loamy or silty soil types. Plants grow low to the ground, reaching around 15 cm in height and spread, making them perfect for intercropping or compact garden spaces. Harvest begins around 60–70 days from sowing, with leaves picked as whole rosettes or individually for a cut-and-come-again approach.

Standard packet contains approx. 50 seeds

Petite packet contains approx. 20 seeds