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Salanova lettuce: a long and abundant harvest

Salanova lettuce varieties are super tasty and tender. The heads have much more leaves than ordinary lettuce, and you can harvest them for a long time.

To the seed shop

Salanovas: specially bred for an extra-large harvest

In 2022, we stumbled upon a lettuce variety that blew us all away: the heads produced an impressive yield that kept going, thanks to the plants’ delayed flowering.

This red lettuce was part of the Salanova family. It took some effort, but we managed to convince the company behind these seeds to provide us with four special Salanova varieties. We’re pretty proud of this, as these seeds aren’t available anywhere else for home growers.

Why is Salanova lettuce so special?

All lettuce varieties that fall under this category form compact and full heads with two to four times more leaves than regular lettuce. This is super convenient for professional growers because they only need to grow one head to achieve the same yield.

The leaves of a Salanova head stay fresher longer after harvesting than other types. Plus, they’re all about the same size and shape, which is exactly what their customers want—a salad full of small, uniform leaves just looks so much better.

For us, these varieties have another big advantage: they’re slow to bolt. Since we don’t harvest the entire head at once but pick leaves as we need them, we can keep harvesting from a single head for a long time.

*This head of Salanova oak leaf lettuce continues to grow if you regularly harvest leaves from it*

Why are the seeds in clay pellets?

All Salanova seeds come in a small clay pellet.

This is super convenient because it makes planting a breeze, and you’re way less likely to lose them compared to regular seeds without the clay coating. This is especially helpful with tiny lettuce seeds.

Is that the only reason?

Actually, that's just a nice extra perk.

The real benefit of the clay coating is that it gives the seeds the best possible start. To ensure they germinate reliably, grow strong and easily, and deliver a high yield, these seeds get a head start before planting.

First, the seeds are thoroughly rinsed and partially pre-germinated in a process called 'priming.' This makes them a bit delicate, so they’re coated in a layer of clay for protection.

What are these clay pellets made of?

They are made of clay, water, and a natural binder. Think of it as a small pot made by a potter. Nothing chemical or unnatural is involved.

Are there any downsides to these seeds?

Yes, two actually.

The first is that this treatment makes the seeds more expensive than regular seeds. However, you get a high yield of leaves over a long period, which balances out the cost.

The second drawback is that these seeds do not keep as well as non-primed seeds. So you need to sow them fairly quickly.

The shelf life of these pellets is about 12 months. But if you keep them dry and cool in the refrigerator, you can extend the germination period by up to about 18 months.

Where do these seeds come from?

From the Dutch family company Rijk Zwaan. The people there work with endless patience, crossbreeding the plants until an extra strong and super tasty variety emerges.

This breeding process is all about cross-pollination, which is completely natural. It has nothing to do with genetic modification or synthetic chemicals.

This way, Rijk Zwaan develops top-performing seeds for growers worldwide, whether for the heat of Africa, the short and cool season in Scandinavia, or the high altitudes of the Andes. And, of course, for the Netherlands 🙂

On top of that, it’s just a really great company with super passionate people. We had the chance to meet a few of them - always striving to create the best, tastiest, and most interesting veggies.

*Visiting the trial fields of Rijk Zwaan*

Which Salanova varieties do you sell?

The four Salanova varieties that are sold are:

By the way, the red varieties have another advantage, as slugs tend to leave red lettuce alone more than green lettuce.

To the shop

You can find all of these varieties in the app, which will guide you from seed to harvest.

All varieties are planted and harvested the same way.

To ensure the seedlings grow well, start them indoors and transplant them as small plants into your garden bed. This way, you make the best use of your space and can keep harvesting almost year-round.

Curious to see how this looks in practice? You’ll find a detailed description of the Crispy red lettuce right on this page.

Enjoy!

Salanova lettuce: a long and abundant harvest

Salanovas: specially bred for an extra-large harvest

Why is Salanova lettuce so special?