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When to Plant Mache in Fremont County, WY

Fremont County, Wyoming Zone 5a May

May to-do list for Fremont County, Wyoming

May is a pivotal month for Fremont County, Wyoming gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost May 15
Avg. first frost September 21
Soil temp (4") 38°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.5 hrs
  1. Move mache into the garden

    Your last frost (May 15) has passed. These warm-season crops can handle outdoor soil now.

  2. Plant mache from seed, right in the garden

    Mark the row. Birds and stray feet both have opinions about unmarked beds.

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.

Fremont County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 129 days.

At an elevation of 6,059 feet, Fremont County receives approximately 14.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 80°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mache to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Mache successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Fremont County, WY (Zone 5a) Short season
129 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
129 growing days
First Fall Frost September 21

Fremont County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Jul 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Jul 31
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 6 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Aug 26

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 Fremont County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.8) overlaps with Mache's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Mache.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). 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

3
successive plantings in your 129-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 23 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 13.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
1.0″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,127 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 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 1.4" 2.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.3" 3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Fremont 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 ~500 GDD — county provides 1,290 GDD Excellent fit

Mache Planting Timeline — Fremont County, WY

Mache Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 10 Apr 10 – Apr 24
Transplant Outdoors May 15 May 15 – May 29
Direct Sow May 1 May 1 – May 22
Harvest June 26 Jun 26 – Jul 31
Fall Sowing July 13 Jul 13 – Jul 27

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
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

129 days in Fremont County

Growing Tips for Mache in Fremont County

Direct sow Mache outdoors after May 15 in Fremont County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Fremont County receives only 15" of rain annually. Mache needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Fremont County, WY?

Fremont County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 15. Plan your Mache planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Fremont County, WY?

Fremont County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 21.

🌱

Your Fremont County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Fremont County (Zone 5a). 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 Fremont County, WY. 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.