Mâche (Corn Salad, Lamb's Lettuce)

Mâche (Valerianella locusta) also known as corn salad or lamb's lettuce is a small, very cold hardy green native to Eurasia. It got its name corn salad due to the fact it is a weed in grain fields. It is a highly valued green that is easy to grow and has few pests/diseases. It's tenderness, nutty flavor, good seasonal availability, and good nutritional qualities have made it popular in Europe, and more recently elsewhere.

Culture
Mache is an easy green to grow requiring little extra care. It may be grown in extremely low temperatures if kept protected under cover, and some in New England report being able to grow the hardiest varieties in late February. Seeds can be direct sown at any time of year, but care must be taken to avoid bolting caused by temperatures above 70F. A good strategy is to start growing mache early in the season in full sun, where the soil may be warmed by the sun in the colder months. Summer mache production is then moved to shade to reduce heat and reduce bolting. Production generally stops in June and picks up again in autumn. Leaves may be harvested from the head and allowed to regrow, or the whole small plant may be cut and used.


 * Full Sun to Shade (depending on season)


 * Well drained soils with high OM


 * 20-50 days to harvest


 * Neutral soil pH


 * Direct sow (broadcast and cover with ~1/4" soil) and thin as plants grow


 * Sow outdoors when weather is at least 45F or sow in protected conditions


 * Prone to slugs

Cultivar/Seed Selection
There exist cold resistant cultivars, and bolt resistant (in a way heat tolerant) ones. Selections were given for both but special interest is given to cold tolerant varieties as a means of producing green very early in the season. Bolt resistant varieties are for succesfully growing mache during the warmer months.

Fedco Seeds:

3102VC Verte de Cambrai (cold resistant)

http://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds/search.php?search=mache&item=3102&index=4

3114LL Large Leaf Round Mache (bolt resistant)

http://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds/search.php?search=mache&item=3114&index=5

Johnny's Selected Seeds:

Product #419 VIT (cold resistant)

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-6040-vit.aspx

Product #263 Medallion (bolt resistant)

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8602-medallion.aspx