How to Grow Corn Salad
Corn Salad
Valerianella locusta
vegetableCorn salad, also known as mâche or lamb's lettuce, is a cold-hardy leafy green with tender, mild-flavored leaves and a delicate texture. It thrives in cool seasons and is prized for late fall and winter harvests when other greens are scarce. This nutritious salad green is compact, low-growing, and produces abundant foliage perfect for fresh eating.
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Example Corn Salad timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Corn Salad
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Corn Salad
Around May 22≈ 35 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Corn Salad dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-9; excellent for fall and winter growing in all zones
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny cotyledons emerge 5-10 days after planting; first true leaves appear within 2 weeks
Keep soil consistently moist. Thin seedlings when 1-2 inches tall to proper spacing. Protect from slugs and heavy rain.
Early Growth
2-3 weeksTrue leaves expand; rosette begins to form with 4-6 leaves visible
Continue consistent moisture. Begin light fertilizing with balanced or nitrogen-rich fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Monitor for pests.
Leafy Development
2-3 weeksDense rosette develops with 8-12 tender leaves; plant reaches 3-4 inches tall
Maintain even watering. Apply mulch around base to retain moisture and keep soil cool. Reduce nitrogen if applying excessive fertilizer.
Harvest Readiness
Ongoing once readyFull rosette of 15-20 tender leaves; plant reaches 4-6 inches tall and is ready for harvesting
Begin harvesting outer leaves or cutting entire plant at soil line. Continue watering for regrowth if harvesting selectively.
Bolting
1-2 weeks before quality declinesFlower stalk emerges as temperatures warm; leaves become tougher and more bitter
Harvest immediately once bolting begins. Pull entire plant or cut at base. Plant becomes inedible after flowering.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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and
Remove by hand at dusk, set beer traps, encourage ground beetles, apply diatomaceous earth, create barriers with copper tape
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Spray with strong water stream, use insecticidal soap, release ladybugs, apply neem oil in early morning or evening
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Use floating row covers until plants are established, apply kaolin clay spray, use neem oil, plant trap crops
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Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply sulfur or copper fungicides, remove affected leaves
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Use reflective mulches, encourage beneficials, rotate crops, remove affected plants
Uses
Fresh Salad Greens
CulinaryCorn salad's tender, mild leaves are ideal for mixed green salads, adding a delicate texture and subtle nutty flavor. It can be enjoyed raw in salads, as a bed for other ingredients, or as a garnish for soups and plates. [source]
Cooking & Sautéing
CulinaryUnlike tougher greens, corn salad wilts quickly and can be lightly sautéed with garlic and olive oil as a side dish. It's also suitable for adding to soups at the end of cooking for a fresh finish. [source]
Nutritional & Health Benefits
MedicinalCorn salad is rich in vitamins A, C, and B6, as well as folate and antioxidants. It's traditionally used in European folk medicine for its digestive and cleansing properties. [source]
Winter Garden Staple
HouseholdAs an exceptionally cold-hardy green, corn salad extends the harvest season into late fall and winter months, providing fresh greens when most other vegetables have finished producing. [source]
Beneficial for Pollinators & Insects
WildlifeWhen allowed to flower, corn salad provides delicate flowers that attract bees and other beneficial insects. It also serves as a cover crop that supports soil health and beneficial insect populations. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Corn salad is ready 35-50 days after planting. Harvest in early morning when leaves are crisp and hydrated. For continuous harvest, pick outer leaves carefully while leaving center intact to regrow for 1-2 additional harvests. Alternatively, cut entire rosette 1 inch above soil line for one generous harvest. Harvest before bolting occurs—once flower stalks emerge, quality declines rapidly. Best harvested in cool seasons (fall, winter, early spring); summer harvests should be done immediately in morning before heat stress.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Corn salad gets its common name 'lamb's lettuce' from a European tradition of sheep eating the plant on hillsides in spring, combined with the fact that it was historically sown after harvest to provide winter lamb feed.
- 🌱 In France, corn salad (mâche) is considered a delicacy and commands premium prices at farmers markets, particularly in winter when its supply is limited and demand is high.
- 🌱 Corn salad is one of the hardiest salad greens available, capable of surviving temperatures as low as 0°F (-18°C) under snow cover, and it actually becomes sweeter as temperatures drop due to conversion of starches to sugars.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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