Mâche (Valerianella locusta) - Homegrown greens

Mâche is a wonderful salad green that grows in late winter and early spring. Also called "corn salad" or "lamb's lettuce", the small florets are never bitter. The flavor is nutty and this plant which is native to Europe is common in salads throughout the continent. 

In the colder months when few plants grow in the garden, we're always happy to be able to gather mâche for a tasty salad. We sow the seeds in late fall and early winter by simply scattering the seeds in the garden. The seeds germinate fairly slowly but you can expect the tiny florets to appear about 15-20 days after planting.