How to Grow Macas USA

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. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI/PMC), peer-reviewed - Physiological responses of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) plants to UV radiation in its high-altitude mountain ecosystem

   Maca is a Peruvian plant of the Brassicaceae family cultivated for more than 2000 years, growing exclusively in the central Andes between 4000 and 4500m altitude -- probably grown at higher elevations than any other cultivated food crop, in an inhospitable region of intense sunlight, violent winds and below-freezing weather. Best annual daytime temperatures 54-64°F (12-18°C), tolerating 37-72°F (3-22°C). Farmers traditionally sow when the rainy season begins in October; seedlings emerge after one month; the hypocotyl is ready for harvest after a further 260-280 days.

These source is 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.