Description
French Corn Salad Seeds grow Valerianella locusta, a cold-hardy European salad green also known as mache or lambs lettuce. The plants form tender spoon-shaped rosettes with a mild, nutty, slightly sweet flavor, making them useful for fall sowing, winter salads, and early-spring harvests when lettuce can be harder to grow.
Why Grow It
- Cold-hardy leafy green for fall, winter, and early-spring salad harvests.
- Compact 4-6 in. rosettes with tender spoon-shaped leaves and mild nutty flavor.
- A classic French kitchen-garden green with good performance in cool, moist soil.
Growing Information
| Botanical name | Valerianella locusta |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Cool-season annual leafy green |
| Mature height | Typically 4-6 in. tall as compact rosettes |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Bloom or harvest window | Harvest young rosettes in 40-60 days; small white flowers may appear if plants bolt |
| Seed count | 200 seeds |
| Sowing advice | Sow outdoors in late summer, fall, or very early spring while soil is cool. Cover lightly, keep evenly moist, and avoid hot soil for best germination. |
| Spacing | Sow in short rows or blocks, thinning rosettes to about 4-6 in. apart for baby greens |
| Germination | Usually 7-14 days in cool, moist soil; germination may decline in heat |
Best For
- winter salad greens
- French kitchen gardens
- cool-season raised beds
- baby leaf harvests
- heirloom vegetable gardens
Packet Details
Includes 200 seeds. Store seeds cool, dry, and dark until sowing. For best results, sow while soil is cool and keep the seedbed evenly moist.
FAQ
Is French Corn Salad actually corn?
No. French Corn Salad is Valerianella locusta, a small leafy salad green also called mache or lambs lettuce, not sweet corn.
When should I sow corn salad seeds?
Sow in late summer, fall, or very early spring while soil is cool and evenly moist.
How do I harvest mache?
Cut young rosettes when leaves are tender, usually 40-60 days after sowing, before plants bolt in warm weather.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.