Mache

Growing

This tender annual grows in the cool weather of early spring or late autumn, which makes it a reliable choice for extending your growing season. Because it can survive a hard freeze, you can often leave it in the garden well into the colder months. Prepare a bed with even moisture and a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. If you are growing in containers, use a medium that drains well so the roots do not sit in stagnant water.

As the plant matures, the leaves form a small, dense rosette from the base. Harvest the leaves when they reach a usable size, as the plant does not continue to ripen or improve in flavor once picked. To keep your harvest fresh, store the greens unwashed in the refrigerator. To preserve the crop for the winter, blanch the leaves before placing them in the freezer.