Mache is an annual plant that grows wild in many areas.
There are also several mache varieties with larger leaves and sweeter flavors that have been bred for backyard gardening.
Mache grows in low rosettes of elongated, dark green leaves up to 4 inches long.
The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
There are two types of mache from which to choose: large-seeded and small-seeded.
Mache is usually sown by seed in late fall or early spring.
In warmer climates, it may serve as a winter crop.
The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
Be patient; mache can be slow to germinate.
Don’t worry about spacingbroadcast the seed and cover lightly with 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch of soil.
Keep soil moist until germination, which takes seven to 12 days.
The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
As seedlings sprout, thin them out to 3- to 6-inch spacing.
Growing plants should be watered weekly.
you’re free to prolong the season bysuccession plantingevery two weeks throughout spring.
Mache will continue growing longer in hot weather, if you keep it moist and shaded.© Marie Iannotti
If you plant in the fall, you might want to mulch the plants after the ground has frozen.
Mache isn’t around long enough to require much maintenance.
Simply keep the plants watered and weed-free.
The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
As the days get warmer, the plants will appreciate partial shade, especially in the afternoon.
Soil
Mache will grow just about anywhere and in any soil.
If the plant is exposed to full sun, water more frequently.
However, for seeds to germinate, it needs soil temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
If soil is warmer than this, the seeds will go dormant.
The plant grows equally well in humid and dry air conditions, provided it gets the right soil moisture.
Fertilizer
Because the growing season for mache is so short, no fertilizer is necessary.
Pale leaves indicate a need for nutrients.
Harvesting
Mache can be harvested as a “cut-and-come-again” lettuce.
Use the outer leaves first, when they are about 3 inches long.
Leave the rosette in place to allow more leaves to follow.
you could also slice off an entire head, but it is unlikely to regrow.
Mache is often described as having a nutty flavor.
The leaves are very delicate and tender, like butterhead lettuce, but less sweet and more herbal.
Mache is generally eaten fresh, with a very light dressing.
However, you might warm and wilt the leaves, as a salad or side dish.
The leaves are low-growing and the soil is damp in spring, which makes exclusion the best slug tactic.
Ring the area with copper, coffee grounds, diatomaceous earth (DE), or some other slug-repellant.
