Mache Planting Guide

May

mache this month

Everything below applies to mache broadly. For a plan that's dialled into your county's frost dates and soil, tap your location.

Sun partial shade

Water moderate

Days to harvest 40–60

Plant depth 0.5″

Spacing 6″

How to water mache
Consistent moisture matters more than volume for mache. Little and often beats occasional drenching.
Where to put mache
South-facing beds are ideal for mache. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant mache. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Show me mache timing for my zone →

Mache (corn salad) is a cold-hardy salad green with small, rounded, tender leaves and a mild, nutty flavor. It thrives in cool weather and even overwinters in many climates.

Valerianella locusta · Vegetable · Caprifoliaceae family · 40–60 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Mache Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Mache?

Zone Compatibility for Mache Zones 2a – 10b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 2a	Apr 18	May 23	May 30	Jul 11 – Aug 15
Zone 2b	Apr 10	May 15	May 22	Jul 3 – Aug 7
Zone 3a	Apr 3	May 8	May 15	Jun 26 – Jul 31
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 3	May 10	Jun 21 – Jul 26
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	May 6	Jun 17 – Jul 22
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	May 1	Jun 12 – Jul 17
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 25	Jun 6 – Jul 11
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 18	May 30 – Jul 4
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 10	May 22 – Jun 26
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Apr 3	May 15 – Jun 19
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 25	May 6 – Jun 10
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 18	Apr 29 – Jun 3
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 8	Apr 19 – May 24
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 25	Apr 8 – May 13
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 10	Mar 24 – Apr 28
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 25	Mar 8 – Apr 12
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Feb 12 – Mar 19
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Feb 12 – Mar 19

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Transplant shows "—" because Mache is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.

How to Plant Mache

0.5"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 2a – 10b

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Caprifoliaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Caprifoliaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Mache

Mache matures in just 40–60 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 5 successive plantings by sowing every 4.6 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Mache

✅ Good Companions

Lettuce Spinach Radish

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Mache

Direct sow in early spring or late summer for fall and winter harvest. Seeds need light to germinate so press gently into soil surface. Harvest whole rosettes.

Saving Mache Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

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Mache by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Mache?

Mache (Valerianella locusta) takes 40 to 60 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Mache grow in?

Mache can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Mache need?

Growing Mache requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.