When to Plant Mache in USDA Zone 5a
Zone 5a gardeners: here's your May plan
If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.
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Move mache into the garden
Pick a cloudy afternoon or evening to plant. Less transplant shock, and your seedlings will barely blink.
Get ahead of June
- Starting indoors: mache
- First harvests: mache
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.
In Zone 5a, the average last spring frost is around April 25 and the first fall frost is around October 8, giving you a growing season of approximately 166 days.
Mache Planting Timeline — Zone 5a
Where Is USDA Zone 5a?
The map below highlights the states that contain Zone 5a. Click any state to see the Mache planting schedule for that location.
Mache Planting Calendar — Zone 5a
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | March 21 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Transplant Outdoors | April 25 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Direct Sow | April 11 | Apr 11 – May 2 |
| Harvest | June 6 | Jun 6 – Jul 11 |
| Fall Sowing | July 30 | Jul 30 – Aug 13 |
Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart
Month-by-Month Timeline
| Month | Activities |
|---|---|
| January | — |
| February | — |
| March | Start Indoors |
| April | Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow |
| May | Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow |
| June | Harvest |
| July | Fall Sowing Harvest |
| August | Fall Sowing |
| September | — |
| October | — |
| November | — |
| December | — |
Free Zone 5a Planting Calendar PDF
Know exactly when to plant every crop in your zone. Get a printable month-by-month calendar customized for Zone 5a with start dates, transplant windows, and harvest times.
Growing Conditions
Sun
Partial Shade (3-6 hours)
💧 Water
Moderate — regular watering
Days to Maturity
40–60 days
Soil pH
6 – 7.5
Zone Temperature Range
°F to °F average annual minimum
Growing Season
166 days (Zone average)
Planting Specifications
| Planting Depth | 0.5 inches |
| Plant Spacing | 6 inches apart |
| Row Spacing | 12 inches between rows |
Succession Planting Mache in Zone
Sow every 4.6 weeks for continuous harvest throughout the season.
Growing Tips for Mache in Zone
Zone has a short growing season (~166 days). Start Mache indoors early and use season-extension techniques like row covers and cold frames.
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.
Companion Planting
Good Companions
The Gardener's Encyclopedia to Companion Planting
The pairings that make vegetables, herbs, and flowers grow better — and the ones that quietly wreck a bed.
- Proven pairings for 200+ vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruits
- Full seed-starting + planting schedule with timing and spacing
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Saving Mache Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Related Plants
Mache in Other Zones
Mache by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Mache in Zone 5a?
In Zone 5a, plan your Mache planting around the average last frost date of April 25. Start seeds indoors around March 21. Direct sow outdoors around April 11. Transplant seedlings around April 25.
Can Mache grow in Zone 5a?
Yes, Mache can grow well in Zone 5a, hardy in USDA zones 2a through 10b. Zone 5a has a growing season of approximately 166 days, which is sufficient for Mache (40-60 days to maturity).
When can I harvest Mache in Zone 5a?
In Zone 5a, expect to harvest Mache from June 6 – July 11. Mache takes 40-60 days from planting to harvest.
What is the last frost date for Zone 5a?
The average last spring frost in Zone 5a is around April 25, and the first fall frost is around October 8. This gives a growing season of approximately 166 days. These are 50% probability dates — actual frost dates vary year to year.
What should I plant next to Mache?
Good companion plants for Mache include Lettuce, Spinach, Radish. These companions can help with pest control, pollination, and nutrient sharing.
Your Free Printable Garden Planner
A 24-page printable planner tailored to your zone. Planting dates, monthly task lists, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — everything you need to plan a full season.