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When to Plant Mache in Trigg County, KY

Trigg County, Kentucky Zone 7a May

May in Trigg County, Kentucky — your action list

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

Avg. last frost April 5
Avg. first frost October 30
Soil temp (4") 61°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Time to start mache inside

    A seed-starting mix and a sunny window (or a grow light) are all you need. Keep soil warm — around 70°F — for fast germination.

  2. Harvest mache as they ripen

    Taste as you pick. The first ripe produce is the best feedback loop you'll get all season.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • 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.

Trigg County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 208 days.

At an elevation of 1,825 feet, Trigg County receives approximately 48.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Mache during the growing season.

Trigg County, KY (Zone 7a) Long season
208 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
208 growing days
First Fall Frost October 30
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Trigg County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (133 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: May 11 – Jun 15
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (131 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jun 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (132 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Jul 4

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 Trigg County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2–6.8) overlaps with Mache's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). 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

6
successive plantings in your 208-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 31 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 21.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 23 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 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 5.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Trigg 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 3,328 GDD Excellent fit

Mache Planting Timeline — Trigg County, KY

Mache Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 1 Mar 1 – Mar 15
Transplant Outdoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Direct Sow March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 12
Harvest May 17 May 17 – Jun 21
Fall Sowing August 21 Aug 21 – Sep 4

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 Fall Sowing
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

208 days in Trigg County

Growing Tips for Mache in Trigg County

Direct sow Mache outdoors after April 05 in Trigg County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 208.0-day season in Trigg 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 Trigg County, KY?

Trigg County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Mache planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Trigg County, KY?

Trigg County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 30.

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Your Trigg County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Trigg County (Zone 7a). 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 Trigg 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.