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When to Plant Mache in Sioux County, ND

Sioux County, North Dakota Zone 4a May

Sioux County, North Dakota gardeners: here's your May plan

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Sioux County, North Dakota this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 12
Avg. first frost October 1
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Time to transplant mache

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Direct-sow mache

    Sow every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest. A single big planting means a single big glut.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • Starting indoors: mache
  • 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.

Sioux County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost is October 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 142 days.

At an elevation of 1,012 feet, Sioux County receives approximately 32.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mache to ensure they mature before fall.

Sioux County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
142 days
Last Spring Frost May 12
142 growing days
First Fall Frost October 1

Sioux County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Jul 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 23 – Jul 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (68 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Aug 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 Sioux County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.4) is within Mache's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.8%). Annual compost additions will help Mache.

How to Plant Mache

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

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Mache

4
successive plantings in your 142-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 09.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 68 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Sioux 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 ~575 GDD — county provides 1,633 GDD Excellent fit

Mache Planting Timeline — Sioux County, ND

Mache Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 31 Mar 31 – Apr 14
Transplant Outdoors May 12 May 12 – May 26
Direct Sow May 5 May 5 – May 26
Harvest June 23 Jun 23 – Jul 28
Fall Sowing July 9 Jul 9 – Jul 23

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

142 days in Sioux County

Growing Tips for Mache in Sioux County

Direct sow Mache outdoors after May 12 in Sioux County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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 Sioux County, ND?

Sioux County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 12. Plan your Mache planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sioux County, ND?

Sioux County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and first fall frost is October 1.

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Your Sioux County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sioux County (Zone 4a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Sioux County, ND. 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.