Can I grow my own maca?

Maca requires a long frost free growing season and grows poorly where summer temperatures exceed 75 degrees. Perennial (hardy in zones 6-8), but can be grown as an annual. Start seeds inside in late winter and transplant outside in the garden after danger of frost is over with.

How do you grow maca at home?

Scatter on the surface of the soil and press into the surface. Germination should take place within two to three weeks. Thin to about a six inch spacing in every direction if supplying regular water or 10 inches in dry conditions. Maca is a compact plant and will grow very well in a quart-sized pot.

Where do you get maca root from?

Andes mountains
It grows wild in the frigid ground of the Andes mountains thousands of feet above sea level in Peru. And it has a nutty, slightly butterscotch-y taste. Maca root, which comes from the mustard plant family, is a nutritional powerhouse.

How long does it take to grow maca?

8–9 months
Harvesting. Harvest your maca after 8–9 months. Maca needs a long growing season to fully mature, so continue taking care of them until then. After 8–9 months, they’ll have absorbed most of the nutrients from the soil and reach their largest size.

Where does maca plant grow?

Peruvian Andes mountain range
Maca is native to the high plateaus of the Peruvian Andes mountain range. In fact, Andean people have cultivated maca for more than 2,000 years. It’s one of the few edible plants that can survive the harsh weather conditions above 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) in the Peruvian Andes ( 2 ).

How is maca root grown?

Maca germinates quickly in either cold or warm soils. Full sun in well drained soil is preferred, but maca isn’t picky. Maca grows well on poor soils, in harsh cold conditions and is drought tolerant.

What is maca called in English?

Overview. Maca, also called Ginseng Andin, Peruvian Ginseng, Lepidium meyenii, or Lepidium peruvianum, is a relative of radish and smells similar to butterscotch. Maca is a plant that grows on the high plateaus of the Andes Mountains.

Is maca edible?

In fact, Andean people have cultivated maca for more than 2,000 years. It’s one of the few edible plants that can survive the harsh weather conditions above 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) in the Peruvian Andes ( 2 ). Traditionally, the Andean people used maca as a food, consuming it in a fermented drink or porridge.