Mache

Mache, also known as corn salad or lamb's lettuce, is a cool-season leafy green valued for its mild, nutty flavor and tender leaves. Rich in vitamins and minerals, growing mache provides a nutritious addition to salads and sandwiches, making it a popular choice for home gardeners.

Preparing for Growing:

• Selecting a planting location: Choose a planting location with partial shade to full sun, especially in warmer climates. Mache thrives in cool temperatures.
• Soil preparation: Prepare well-draining, fertile soil by incorporating compost or aged manure. Aim for a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
• Purchasing or preparing containers/pots: If growing in containers, choose pots with good drainage to prevent waterlogging.

Starting from Seeds Indoors:

• Seed preparation: No special seed preparation is required for mache seeds.
• Choosing suitable pots/containers: Use shallow containers or seedling trays filled with potting mix.
• Sowing and caring for seeds indoors: Sow mache seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Keep the soil consistently moist and provide adequate light, such as a sunny windowsill or under grow lights.
• Transplanting to larger containers if necessary: Once seedlings develop true leaves, transplant them into larger containers or outdoors if weather conditions permit.

Starting from Seeds Outdoors:

• Soil preparation: Prepare the garden bed by loosening the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches. Remove debris and incorporate compost for added fertility.
• Selecting appropriate timing and method for outdoor sowing: Sow mache seeds directly outdoors in early spring or late summer. Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows spaced 6-8 inches apart.
• Caring for seeds outdoors: Keep the soil consistently moist until seeds germinate, typically within 7-14 days.

Growing in Containers/Pots:

• Selecting suitable plants for containers: Mache grows well in containers, especially shallow ones.
• Container and soil preparation: Choose containers with good drainage and fill them with quality potting mix.
• Sowing or transplanting plants into containers: Sow seeds or transplant seedlings into containers, following spacing recommendations on the seed packet.
• Caring for container plants: Place containers in a location with partial shade to full sun and water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist.

Transplanting to Garden:

• Soil and planting site preparation: Amend the soil with compost and ensure good drainage.
• Correct timing and method for transplanting: Transplant seedlings outdoors once they develop several true leaves, spacing them 6-8 inches apart.
• Post-transplant care: Water transplanted seedlings thoroughly and provide shade if needed to prevent wilting.

Plant Care:

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry periods. Water at the base of the plants to prevent fungal diseases.
• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer according to package instructions once seedlings establish themselves.
• Weeding: Keep the garden bed or containers free from weeds to reduce competition for nutrients and moisture.
• Pest and disease management: Monitor plants regularly for signs of pests or diseases. Handpick pests like aphids and caterpillars, and treat fungal diseases with appropriate fungicides if necessary.

Harvesting:

• Determining when plants are ready for harvest: Harvest mache leaves when they reach the desired size, usually around 40-50 days after planting. Harvest individual leaves as needed or cut the entire plant back to 1 inch above the soil.
• Harvesting and storage guidelines: Harvest mache in the morning when leaves are crisp. Store harvested leaves in the refrigerator wrapped in damp paper towels for up to one week.

When to Start from Seeds by USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:

• Mache seeds can be started indoors or sown directly outdoors based on your USDA plant hardiness zone. In colder climates (zones 1-6), start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. In warmer climates (zones 7-11), sow seeds directly outdoors in early spring or late summer for a fall crop.

Fast Facts:

• Planting depth: Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in the soil.
• Seed spacing: Plant seeds 1 inch apart in rows spaced 6-8 inches apart.
• Plant spacing: Space transplanted seedlings 6-8 inches apart.
• Number of seeds per pot/container: Plant 2-3 seeds per pot or container and thin to the strongest seedling.
• Water preferences: Keep soil consistently moist, watering at the base of the plants.
• Sun preferences: Partial shade to full sun, with at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
• Soil type and other important factors: Well-draining, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Incorporate compost for added fertility.
• Companion Planting: Mache grows well with other cool-season crops like spinach, radishes, and peas.
• Temperature Preference: Mache prefers cooler temperatures between 45°F and 75°F.
• Days to Germination: Mache seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days under optimal conditions.
• Days to Harvest: Harvest mache leaves in 40-50 days from planting, or when leaves reach the desired size.