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When to Plant Mache in Henry County, KY

Henry County, Kentucky Zone 6b May

Your May game plan for Henry County, Kentucky

Each item below is timed to Henry County, Kentucky's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 10
Avg. first frost October 26
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Get mache seeds going inside

    Label every cell. You will absolutely forget which is which otherwise.

  2. Bring in the mache

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

June prep starts now
  • First harvests: mache

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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.

Henry County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 199 days.

At an elevation of 1,436 feet, Henry County receives approximately 51.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Mache during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Mache root diseases.

Henry County, KY (Zone 6b) Moderate season
199 days
Last Spring Frost April 10
199 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26
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Henry County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jun 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 6 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jun 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Jul 18

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Henry County

How your county's soil matches Mache's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–7.0) overlaps with Mache's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Henry County is excellent for Mache — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.1%). Annual compost additions will help Mache.

How to Plant Mache

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Mache

5
successive plantings in your 199-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 27 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 17.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Mache

Mache needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Mache Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 4.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Henry County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Mache Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Mache needs ~800 GDD — county provides 3,184 GDD Excellent fit

Mache Planting Timeline — Henry County, KY

Mache Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 6 Mar 6 – Mar 20
Transplant Outdoors April 10 Apr 10 – Apr 24
Direct Sow March 27 Mar 27 – Apr 17
Harvest May 22 May 22 – Jun 26
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 – Aug 31

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July
August Fall Sowing
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

199 days in Henry County

Growing Tips for Mache in Henry County

Direct sow Mache outdoors after April 10 in Henry County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 199.0-day season in Henry County allows multiple plantings of Mache. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

General growing tips

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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mache in Henry County, KY?

Henry County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 10. Plan your Mache planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Henry County, KY?

Henry County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 10 and first fall frost is October 26.

🌱

Your Henry County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Henry County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Henry County, KY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.