Blog

When to Plant Mache in Sawyer County, WI

Sawyer County, Wisconsin Zone 4a April

Your April planting checklist for Sawyer County, Wisconsin

A quick April briefing for Sawyer County, Wisconsin gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost May 17
Avg. first frost September 25
Soil temp (4") 36°F
Watering None
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.3 hrs
To set up a strong May, finish these tasks
  • Transplants going out: mache
  • Direct-sowing: mache

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Sawyer County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 131 days.

At an elevation of 815 feet, Sawyer County receives approximately 36.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 78°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mache to ensure they mature before fall.

Sawyer County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
131 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
131 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25
Share this guide:

Sawyer County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (46 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Jul 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Aug 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (53 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 20 Transplant: Jun 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Aug 17

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 Sawyer County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.1–7.1) is within Mache's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.0%) — Mache will thrive.

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

3
successive plantings in your 131-day season

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

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 03.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Sawyer 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 ~425 GDD — county provides 1,113 GDD Excellent fit

Mache Planting Timeline — Sawyer County, WI

Mache Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 – May 31
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 – May 31
Harvest June 28 Jun 28 – Aug 2
Fall Sowing July 3 Jul 3 – Jul 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

131 days in Sawyer County

Growing Tips for Mache in Sawyer County

Direct sow Mache outdoors after May 17 in Sawyer 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 Sawyer County, WI?

Sawyer County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Mache planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sawyer County, WI?

Sawyer County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 25.

🌱

Your Sawyer County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sawyer 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 Sawyer County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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