Mâche (Corn Salad)
Valerianella locusta
This versatile, vigorous, mildew-resistant variety is excellent at a time of year when greens become scarce. Long, oval, glossy green leaves form tight rosettes. Mild, slightly nutty flavor also reminiscent of roses. Also known as mâche, lamb's lettuce, and corn salad. Unsized seed.
Harvest
50d
Days to harvest
Sun
Partial shade to full sun
Zones
3–9
USDA hardiness
Height
3-6 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Mâche (Corn Salad) in USDA Zone 7
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Mâche (Corn Salad) · Zones 3–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | — | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 2 | — | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 11 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
Succession Planting
Direct sow every 14 days starting March 1 in zone 7, and plan to stop by mid-May. Once daytime highs push past 75°F consistently, mâche bolts fast — you'll see flower stalks within a week of the temperature crossing that line, and the leaves turn bitter before you'd want to harvest them. Three or four small successions is usually enough for a solid spring run without waste.
Pick it back up in late August or early September with a fresh round of sowings. Mâche handles light frost down into the mid-20s°F and keeps producing into November if you lay row cover over the bed once nights drop below 28°F. The fall crop tends to be slower — closer to the full 50 days — but the leaves are sweeter for it.
Complete Growing Guide
Mâche thrives in cool weather, making it perfect for fall and winter growing when most other greens struggle. Start by preparing your site in late summer, choosing a location that receives morning sun but afternoon shade, especially in warmer zones. The key to success with mâche is timing your sowings right – wait until soil temperatures drop below 65°F, as warm soil prevents proper germination.
Prepare well-draining soil enriched with compost, aiming for a pH between 6.0-7.0. Unlike heavy-feeding greens, mâche prefers moderately fertile soil – too much nitrogen actually reduces its signature nutty flavor and makes plants more susceptible to rot. Work in a 1-inch layer of compost rather than fresh manure.
Direct sowing is essential for mâche, as it doesn't transplant well due to its taproot. Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in rows 6-8 inches apart from late August through October in most zones. In zones 8-10, wait until November or December. Seeds can take 10-21 days to germinate, so be patient. Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged during germination.
Thin seedlings to 4-6 inches apart once they develop their first true leaves. This spacing prevents overcrowding that leads to fungal issues in cool, moist conditions. Mâche grows slowly through fall and winter, which is exactly what develops its tender texture and concentrated flavor.
Fertilizing should be minimal – a light side-dressing of balanced organic fertilizer once during the growing season is sufficient. Over-fertilization creates lush growth that's more prone to cold damage and disease. Focus instead on maintaining consistent soil moisture, especially during dry winter spells.
The biggest mistake beginners make is planting too early in warm soil or trying to grow mâche as a spring crop. While possible in very cool climates, spring-grown mâche often bolts quickly and lacks the superior flavor of fall-grown plants. Another common error is overwatering in winter – mâche needs less water than summer greens and too much moisture around the crown causes rot.
Harvesting
Harvest mâche when rosettes reach 3-4 inches across, typically 60-70 days from sowing. The leaves should be a rich dark green color with a glossy appearance and feel tender but not limp when gently pressed. Individual leaves should be spoon-shaped and about 2 inches long at peak harvest.
Harvest in late morning after dew has dried but before afternoon heat, though this is less critical in winter growing conditions. You have two harvesting options: cut the entire rosette about ½ inch above soil level for a single large harvest, or pick individual outer leaves starting when plants reach 2 inches across for continuous harvests over several weeks.
For whole-plant harvest, use sharp scissors or a knife to make clean cuts, which prevents damage to neighboring plants in closely spaced plantings. When harvesting individual leaves, pinch them off at the base rather than cutting to avoid damaging the growing crown. Handle mâche gently as the leaves bruise easily and lose their crisp texture. After frost, the flavor actually improves, becoming nuttier and more complex, so don't rush to harvest before cold weather hits.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh mâche is highly perishable and should be used within 3-5 days of harvest for best quality. Store unwashed leaves in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator crisper drawer at 32-35°F with high humidity. Avoid washing until ready to use, as excess moisture causes rapid deterioration.
For longer storage, mâche can be preserved by gentle blanching for 30 seconds, then freezing, though this significantly changes the texture and makes it suitable only for cooked dishes or soups. Unlike heartier greens, mâche doesn't dry or dehydrate well due to its delicate structure and high moisture content.
The best preservation method is successive plantings every 2-3 weeks from late summer through fall, ensuring fresh harvests throughout winter. In zones 6-9, mâche often overwinters successfully under row covers or in cold frames, providing fresh greens when little else survives outdoors.
History & Origin
Mâche, scientifically known as Valerianella locusta, has been consumed across Europe since the Stone Age, with archaeological evidence showing its use dating back over 7,000 years. Native to the Mediterranean region and temperate Europe, this hardy green earned its common name 'corn salad' not from maize, but from the old English term 'corn' meaning grain – it was commonly found growing wild in grain fields.
French cuisine elevated mâche from foraged wild green to cultivated delicacy during the 17th century, when it became prized in Parisian markets for its ability to provide fresh salads during harsh winters. The name 'lamb's lettuce' arose from its supposed resemblance to a lamb's tongue, though 'mâche' remains the preferred term among culinary professionals.
Different regional varieties developed across Europe, with the French selecting for the tender, rounded leaves we know today, while German and Dutch varieties tend to be slightly more cold-hardy with narrower leaves. This heirloom green represents centuries of careful selection by European gardeners who valued its unique combination of cold tolerance, delicate flavor, and winter availability.
Advantages
- +Exceptional cold tolerance – actually improves in flavor after frost and survives temperatures down to 10°F
- +Naturally pest and disease resistant with minimal maintenance required
- +Provides fresh salad greens throughout winter when most vegetables are dormant
- +Self-sowing habit means established plants often return year after year
- +Extremely space-efficient – produces maximum yield in minimal garden space
- +Gourmet flavor commands premium prices at farmers markets
- +Grows well in partial shade where other greens struggle
Considerations
- -Slow germination and growth requires patience – takes 60-70 days to harvest
- -Seeds are expensive and can be difficult to source compared to common lettuce varieties
- -Extremely short shelf life makes it impractical for storage or preservation
- -Will not germinate in warm soil, limiting growing season timing flexibility
- -Delicate leaves bruise easily during harvest and handling
Companion Plants
Radishes and chives are the two worth prioritizing: radishes lure flea beetles away from the mâche and loosen the top inch of soil as you pull them, while chives planted at the bed edge push back aphids through their sulfur compounds without competing much for root space given mâche's shallow 3-6 inch profile. In our zone 7 Georgia garden, peas make a useful third — they fix nitrogen in the same cool window mâche needs, and neither crop shades the other out at those heights. Brassicas are worth keeping at least 12 inches away; they're heavy feeders that can drag soil pH below mâche's 6.0 floor and drag in cabbage aphids as a bonus. Fennel is simply allelopathic — it suppresses germination of almost anything within 18 inches, and mâche's small seeds are no exception.
Plant Together
Chives
Repels aphids and other pests while improving soil health
Radishes
Quick-growing companion that breaks up soil and deters flea beetles
Carrots
Deep roots complement shallow mâche roots, efficient space usage
Spinach
Similar growing conditions and harvest timing, good succession planting
Garlic
Natural pest deterrent that repels aphids and slugs
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects and provides natural ground cover
Peas
Fix nitrogen in soil and provide light shade during warmer weather
Dill
Attracts beneficial predatory insects that control harmful pests
Keep Apart
Brassicas
Heavy feeders that compete for nutrients and may stunt mâche growth
Fennel
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most leafy greens including mâche
Sunflowers
Allelopathic compounds and aggressive root system suppress nearby plants
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346388)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent cold tolerance and disease resistance. Very hardy in winter conditions.
Common Pests
Slugs, aphids (rarely problematic)
Diseases
Downy mildew in very wet conditions, otherwise disease-free
Troubleshooting Mâche (Corn Salad)
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedlings collapse at the soil line within the first 1-2 weeks after germination
Likely Causes
- Damping off — a complex of soil-borne fungi (Pythium, Rhizoctonia) that thrives in cold, wet, poorly-drained soil
- Reusing the same bed for mâche or other greens three or more years running without rotation
What to Do
- 1.Pull the dead seedlings and check the soil — if you see fuzzy whitish mold at the surface, damping off is almost certainly the culprit (NC State's IPM case studies flag this mold as a reliable visual tell)
- 2.Improve drainage before the next sowing: scratch in coarse compost or perlite if the bed stays wet for more than a day after rain
- 3.Direct sow into rotated ground and water in the morning so the soil surface dries before nightfall
Irregular holes chewed through leaves overnight, slime trail visible on the soil the next morning
Likely Causes
- Slugs (Deroceras reticulatum and related species) — they feed at night and shelter under debris or soil clods through the day
- Dense mulch or dead plant material left tight against the crowns, giving slugs daytime cover within inches of the plants
What to Do
- 1.Set a shallow dish of beer at soil level the evening you first spot damage — check and empty it each morning for a week
- 2.Scatter iron phosphate bait (Sluggo or equivalent) around the bed at dusk; it won't harm ground beetles or pets
- 3.Clear dead leaves and debris from the crowns so slugs lose their nearest hiding spots
Grayish-purple fuzz on the undersides of leaves, pale yellow patches showing on top
Likely Causes
- Downy mildew (Peronospora valerianellae) — spreads fast in cool, wet weather, especially where plants are packed closer than 2 inches apart
- Overhead watering late in the day, leaving foliage wet overnight
What to Do
- 1.Strip and trash affected leaves immediately — don't compost them
- 2.Thin to at least 4 inches between plants so air moves through the canopy
- 3.Switch to base watering only, in the morning; mâche needs roughly 1 inch per week, no more
New growth stunted and slightly cupped, with clusters of tiny soft-bodied insects packed along the stems
Likely Causes
- Aphids (most likely Nasonovia ribisnigri, the lettuce aphid) — usually minor on mâche but can spike in early spring before parasitic wasps and lacewings build up
- Absence of flowering plants nearby that would otherwise attract aphid predators
What to Do
- 1.Hit the colonies with a firm spray of water from a hose; repeat every 2-3 days for a week
- 2.If populations don't drop, apply insecticidal soap directly to the undersides of leaves where they cluster
- 3.Tuck a few dill plants into the bed edge to draw in parasitic wasps — they'll work through an aphid colony faster than you will
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you grow mâche in containers?▼
When should I plant mâche seeds?▼
What does mâche taste like?▼
How long does mâche take to grow from seed?▼
Is mâche good for beginners?▼
Can mâche survive winter outdoors?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.