How to grow mache (corn salad)
Valerianella locusta · Caprifoliaceae · Vegetable
When to plant mache (corn salad): the short answer
Sow outdoors about 5 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 8 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 68°F, fastest near 55°F.
Cold winters (zone 5): sow Mar 21 – Apr 9, or sow Jul 31 – Aug 17 for a fall crop. Mild winters (zone 9): sow Sep 25 – Oct 12 for fall and winter harvests; the spring window (Jan 11 – Jan 30) closes before the summer heat. Skip the hottest months for mache (corn salad). See every zone.
Mache (Corn Salad) is a cool-season vegetable in the Caprifoliaceae family, almost always sown straight into the ground where it will grow. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 45–60 days. It is one of the toughest crops here, standing through hard frost and often improving for it.
Grower’s note: The hardiest salad green there is - sow from late summer through fall and it stands under snow for winter cutting. It will not germinate in warm soil, so it is not a spring crop in most regions. Harvest whole little rosettes.
Sowing
Sow about 0.25″ deep, into soil between 40–68°F — germination is quickest near 55°F. It is slow and often erratic to germinate (7–21 days). It does not transplant well, so sow it in its final position rather than starting it in pots.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 3″ along the row with roughly 6″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 16 per square foot. Allow at least 6″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 6″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, mache (corn salad) does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. A second sowing in late summer, timed to mature as the weather cools, is usually the better crop of the year — and light frost only sweetens it.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long mache (corn salad) takes to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 45-60 days (6-9 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 7-21 days in soil around 55°F.
When to plant mache (corn salad)
When to plant mache (corn salad) by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Fall or second sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | - | Apr 5 – Apr 24 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | - | Mar 31 – Apr 19 | Jul 21 – Aug 7 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | - | Mar 21 – Apr 9 | Jul 31 – Aug 17 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | - | Mar 6 – Mar 25 | Aug 10 – Aug 27 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | - | Feb 24 – Mar 15 | Aug 20 – Sep 6 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | - | Feb 8 – Feb 27 | Aug 31 – Sep 17 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | - | Jan 11 – Jan 30 | Sep 25 – Oct 12 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | - | Dec 21 – Jan 9 | Oct 10 – Oct 27 |
Companions
No strong companions recorded.
No strong antagonists recorded.
Common problems
Pests: slugs.
Diseases & disorders: downy mildew.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant mache (corn salad)?
Sow outdoors about 5 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 8 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 68°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does mache (corn salad) take to grow?
About 45-60 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 7-21 days, fastest in soil around 55°F.
How much sun does mache (corn salad) need?
It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough.
What soil pH does mache (corn salad) need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant mache (corn salad)?
Space plants about 3 inches apart in rows 6 inches apart, or 16 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep.
Can I grow mache (corn salad) in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 6 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.