How to Grow Macas

At a Glance

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Soil pH	6.5 - 7.5
Soil texture	tolerant of poor soil, performs better well-amended with abundant organic matter (Cultivariable)
Drainage	well-drained
Lifecycle	biennial (grown as an annual for its root)
Edible parts	root (hypocotyl), leaves

Soil & Growing Conditions

Water: consistent moisture, but good drainage -- long exposure to sodden soil degrades root quality (Cultivariable)

Soil pH range

6.5 7.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Sowing	0	Scatter seed on the soil surface and press in; germinates within two to three weeks (Cultivariable).
Thinning	1	Thin seedlings to 6in spacing with regular water, or 10in in drier conditions (Cultivariable).
Root (hypocotyl) development	4	Requires full sun -- shade reduces root size; needs 5-10 months for harvestable roots, taking about 8-9 months before flowering (Cultivariable).
Frost-triggered harvest	8	Harvest once a hard freeze kills the top growth; best roots are 1-2in diameter (Cultivariable).

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: Harvest after a hard freeze kills the top growth -- roots are quite frost-resistant even as growth slows. Best roots are 1-2in diameter; smaller roots taste superior, with less fibre, than larger ones. Requires 5-10 months from sowing for harvestable roots (Cultivariable).

Pests

Birds and rodents (young plants)

moderate

Various (birds and small rodents)

Cultivariable names this directly: birds and rodents threaten young plants.

Crickets

low

Gryllidae (family)

Cultivariable names this directly: very little insect interest generally, but crickets have caused damage in Portugal.

Maca, the Highest-Altitude Cultivated Crop

Full sun is essential

Cultivariable: maca needs a full dose of sunlight to produce a good size root -- shade noticeably reduces yield.

Sources

1. Cultivariable - Maca (Lepidium meyenii)

   A specialist Andean-crop nursery/grower guide, used as the primary source as no RHS or equivalent authority growing profile exists for this high-altitude Andean crop, explicitly disclosed. A small root crop (technically a bulbous hypocotyl) resembling turnips or radishes, 1-3 inches in diameter, in yellow, red or black (dark purple) landraces. Flavour combines pungent and sweet notes, "like a radish dipped in butterscotch"; leaves are also edible, spicy and cress-like. Native to the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia at elevations up to 14,108 feet, in a natural environment ranging from below freezing to 60°F with frequent frosts and an 8-month wet season; quite resistant to frost, though growth slows considerably in cold weather. USDA zones 7b+ recommended outdoors. Requires full sunlight -- shade reduces root size. Prefers near-neutral pH soil with abundant organic matter and good drainage while maintaining consistent moisture; can tolerate very poor soil but performs better well-amended. Sow by scattering on the soil surface and pressing in; germinates in two to three weeks; March sowing for Pacific Northwest harvests, spring sowing for zones colder than 7b, fall sowing possible in frost-free regions. Thin to 6in spacing with regular water or 10in in dry conditions. Requires 5-10 months for harvestable roots, another 10-15 weeks for seed, about 8-9 months before flowering. Harvest after a hard freeze kills the tops; best roots are 1-2in diameter, smaller roots tasting superior with less fibre than larger ones. Very little insect interest observed, though crickets caused damage in Portugal; birds and rodents threaten young plants. No obvious signs of disease reported in available growing records. Short-term storage at 35-38°F with 90%+ humidity for up to 2 months; dried roots keep for several years, traditionally sun-dried then stored in cloth bags.

2. Useful Temperate Plants - Lepidium meyenii

   Mirrors FAO Ecocrop. Fetched and parsed directly for the numeric soil pH range.

These 2 sources are specific to this region. The full list of 3 sources behind this guide (Cultivariable, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI/PMC), peer-reviewed, Useful Temperate Plants) is in the references of our UK guide to maca; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.