Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
Corn Salad, aka Dutch Mache, aka Lamb’s Lettuce is a lesser-known leafy green vegetable that will introduce a mild and nutty-flavor to your home kitchen. With small, dark green, oval-shaped leaves with an elegant rosette shape, Corn Salad is prized for its tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s a versatile ingredient to switch up your home meals; use as a salad base, a charming garnish for soups, sandwiches, and appetizers, and even a side dish when lightly sautéed. This plant thrives in cool seasons and is easy to grow from seed with rapid maturation for multiple harvests. Dutch Mache Corn Salad is delightful addition to any garden!
NAME: Corn Salad (Mache) (Valerianella locusta)
VARIETY: Dutch Broad Leaf
DAYS TO MATURITY: 40 – 60 days
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: Annual/Perennial (climate pending)
STATIFICATION: Not required
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 3 – 10
SUNLIGHT: Full – Partial Sun
SOIL: Well-draining, fertile soils with a pH 6.5– 7.0
SPACING: 8 – 12 inches
PLANT HEIGHT: 4 – 6 inches
TEMP: 45 – 70ºF
These seeds do not required stratification.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
Starting Dutch Mache Corn-Salad seeds indoors is not recommended. While it’s technically possible to start seeds indoors, it’s generally not recommended for Dutch Mache Corn-Salad due to its preference for cooler temperatures and its delicate nature.
If you still choose to start seeds indoors, use seed trays or pots with good drainage and fill with a lightweight potting mix.
Sow seeds thinly on the soil surface and cover lightly with more potting mix.
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Place the containers in a cool location with temperatures around 50-60°F (10-15°C) for optimal germination.
Once seedlings have developed true leaves, transplant them outdoors carefully to avoid disturbing the delicate roots.
Sow seeds directly into your prepared garden beds in early spring when the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed.
Dig a 1/4 inch deep furrow in your garden and scatter seeds so they are spaced roughly 1 seed every 1/2 inch; space each row 4 inches apart.
Keep the soil consistently moist during germination which occurs in 7-12 days.
After germination, thin seedlings so they are spaced 1 inch apart.
Once seedlings grow to be 2 to 3 inches tall, thin them once more so they are spaced 4 inches apart.
Corn Salad prefers partial shade to full sun.
The best soil for this plant is average or rich in fertility with a pH between 6.0 – 7.0. If your soil is not very fertile, add compost well in advanced to sowing your seeds.
Corn Salad has shallow roots and prefer frequent, but light watering, especially during dry periods.
Mulch around the plants to help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal diseases.
Provide adequate airflow around the plants to reduce the risk of fungal infections.
Corn Salad (Mache) is typically ready for harvest in late spring to early summer, 40-60 days after seeding.
Harvest by cutting the leaves at the base of the plant that way it can regrow for another harvest. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production throughout the growing season.
For continuous harvest, plan to sow every 3 weeks in other areas.
