Mâche, Valerianella locusta, is a small, tender salad green, also called corn salad or lamb’s lettuce. It is popular in Europe but not well known here. It grows in little rosettes and has a mild, slightly nutty flavor.
Planting
- Direct seed or transplant 2 to 4 inches apart from August to October.
- If growing your own seedlings, start the seeds 6 weeks before you want to plant.
- Mâche only grows 2 to 5 inches tall, so make sure it isn’t overtaken by larger plants.
Harvesting
- Pick leaf by leaf, cluster by cluster, or the whole plant.
- Mâche will bolt (go to seed) in early spring when the weather warms. If you let your plants go to seed in the spring, you may get volunteer seedlings.
Recommended varieties for Santa Clara County*
Big-Seeded, D’Etampes, Gala, Vit
* Many other varieties may also do well here in Santa Clara County. This list is based on UC Master Gardener trials, taste tests, and feedback from local growers.