Mache is an annual grown for its leaves, ready to start cutting about 50 days after sowing. Notably, it grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its spring flowers are a modest draw for honeybees, even though the leaves are the prize. Once it comes in, a single planting keeps producing for about three weeks, so you harvest over time rather than all at once.
Zones
Data not available
pH Range
6-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
50
Score Mache on your exact land.
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What Mache is
Mache grows as an annual and reaches around 6 inches at maturity. It blooms white in spring. It's also well suited to containers.
How to grow Mache
Mache is ready to harvest about 50 days after planting. Mache does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 6 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 600 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 45 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
Data not available
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
6 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
50 days
Mâche / corn salad; cold-tolerant; overwinter in zones 6+.
OSU-PNW; Johnny's
GDD Required
600+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
0.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
45+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant mache in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Mache prefers pH 6 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Mache is ready about 50 days after sowing (OSU-PNW; Johnny's). Cut the outer leaves as you need them — frequent harvest keeps new growth coming.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — mache isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Mache offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Mache thrives
Whether mache thrives on a given site comes down to its soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates — the conditions that vary parcel to parcel.
See if Mache will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether mache actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Mache in my zone?
Zone data for mache is being finalized. A Growable Ground report checks your parcel's full suitability against federal soil, climate, and zone data.
How long does Mache take to grow?
Mache is ready to harvest about 50 days after planting (OSU-PNW; Johnny's). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Mache?
Most growers plant mache after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 45-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Mache need?
Mache needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Mache need?
Mache prefers soil pH 6 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Mache attract pollinators?
Yes — mache's flowers are a modest nectar source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Mache safe for pets?
Mache is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.