How to Grow Maca? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods

Maca, also called maka, is a natural vegetable that looks like a small radish, and some people also call it sweet radish. The roots of maca come in purple, red, black, white, yellow, green and other colors, among which black maca has higher nutritional value and relatively lower yields. So how do you grow maca? Is it different from growing radishes? Below, let's learn the maca planting method together with the editor.

1. Seed selection and sprouting

Maca is generally grown by sowing seeds, so seed selection is the foundation for high quality and high yields of maca. Generally, you only need to select plump, glossy seeds that are free of pests, diseases and contamination. Then soak the seeds in warm water at about 50 degrees for about 20 minutes, remove them, and soak them again in warm water at about 30 degrees for 6 to 10 hours. After removing them, soak them in a carbendazim solution for about 1.5 hours, and finally rinse off the residual chemicals with clean water. Let the water drain off, and they are ready for sowing.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

The sowing time for maca is generally around the end of September each year, and the sowing method is usually broadcasting or drilling in rows. On properly prepared soil, scatter the seeds evenly, then gently press the seeds into the soil with a rake, and spread a layer of fine composted soil manure over them to cover the seeds. Finally, a greenhouse needs to be set up to retain moisture, which can speed up maca emergence and increase the emergence rate. Seedlings generally emerge in about 7 to 10 days. After emergence, water once in the morning and take shade measures.

3. Thinning and filling in seedlings

After the seedlings have grown for about one month, we need to start thinning and filling in seedlings. Gently pull out the denser seedlings together with the soil, leaving a spacing of about 15 cm between each plant, and keep at most three seedlings per spot. Then fill in seedlings where they are missing, and the surplus seedlings can be transplanted to the main field. Before transplanting, we need to cover the main field with plastic film, then plant the maca seedlings at a density of 20 cm between rows and 15 cm between plants.

4. Watering and fertilizing

Because planting is generally done before rain or on cloudy and rainy days, we do not need to water immediately after planting. After the maca has established, we should water reasonably according to the weather conditions and the water needs of the field. Never water before rain, and pay attention to draining promptly after rainfall to avoid waterlogging in the field. Throughout the maca growing period, topdressing is generally needed 2 to 3 times, mainly based on the growth of the maca, and mainly with a three-element compound fertilizer.

5. Points to note

During the maca growing period, we also need to pay attention to cultivating and weeding, but when weeding, do not cultivate deeply, as this can affect the normal growth of maca. Second, maca generally has no pests or diseases, but you should still watch out for aphids, which can be controlled by spraying imidacloprid. Pay attention to the timing for seed saving, which is generally in early June, when the maca pods are usually yellowish-brown. Finally, the harvest time must be reasonable, neither too early nor too late, and harvesting in early December is generally best.

Currently, maca sales on the market are still quite good, but the scale of maca planting is also quite large at present. At the same time, growing maca is relatively simple, so if you want to grow maka, it is best to conduct a comprehensive market survey first and then make a decision, so as to avoid unnecessary losses. That is all for the editor's sharing. If you want to learn more details, please stay tuned for the next issue.