Lamb's lettuce is booming in winter: tips for the perfect vegetable dish!

Lamb's lettuce is booming in winter: tips for the perfect vegetable dish!

Winter is approaching and with it comes the time for lamb's lettuce, one of the most popular vegetables in German cuisine. In Baden-Württemberg, lamb's lettuce is grown on a considerable area of ​​626 hectares outdoors and 64 hectares under glass or foil. This region is considered one of the main growing regions in Germany, which is confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture in Stuttgart. Lamb's lettuce is more than just a simple salad; its versatility, health benefits and sustainable production make it a star on many plates.

The winter months are particularly in demand, as lamb's lettuce offers a tasty change from the more typical summer salads. According to Main-Echo, lamb's lettuce is enjoying increasing popularity - many consumers appreciate the plant's high yield stability and robustness in the face of unfavorable weather conditions. It is also often used in salad mixes, which enriches its creations.

Seasonal price fluctuations and purchasing trends

Overall, however, sales figures show a slight decline. In 2024, around five percent less lamb's lettuce was sold in Germany than in the previous year. The purchasing volumes of private households have fallen continuously since the end of the corona pandemic. Despite this development, prices for lamb's lettuce rose to 9.92 euros per kilogram in September 2025, which corresponds to an increase of around nine percent compared to the previous year. Consumers should therefore prepare for seasonal fluctuations, which depend heavily on weather and availability.

The main harvest time for lamb's lettuce extends from mid-November to mid-April. Protected cultivation under glass or film enables a secure harvest, even when the weather conditions are challenging. In this protected framework, tomatoes take first place, while lamb's lettuce ranks second.

A look at the region and its diversity

Lamb's lettuce is therefore not just a niche product in Baden-Württemberg agriculture, but also plays a central role in the nutritional landscape. The region has developed a good knack for cultivation strategies that promote healthy and sustainable production. Every winter, consumers are faced with a choice: Do they stick with their usual summer salads or dare to try new, ingredient-rich creations with lamb's lettuce? The decision is entirely theirs.

Lamb's lettuce remains a hot potato for producers due to its attractive yield stability and robustness to adverse weather conditions. Developments in the field and in stores show that this crisp salad is more than just a passing fad. Whether as a main ingredient or in mixtures - lamb's lettuce has found its permanent place in winter cuisine.