Mauka in Zone 10a & 10b

Mirabilis expansa

When to plant mauka in zone 10b

Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. Mauka needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.

Start indoorsDec 19–Dec 26
Direct sow / transplant outsideFeb 13–Feb 20
Estimated harvestJul 13–Jul 20 (~150 days after transplanting)

Spacing: about 10 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-4 ft.

Mauka
Photo: Lou Tignoùs via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped.

Mauka is a rare Andean root crop, related to the four o'clock flower, that stayed completely unknown to science until the 1960s despite having been domesticated for thousands of years. It's grown for dense, cabbagey-flavored roots that are always eaten cooked, never raw.

How mauka fits zone 10's season

Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Mauka needs about 150 days from transplant to first harvest.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Mauka.

Where to buy mauka seeds

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing mauka" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

← Back to the full zone 10b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

Growing Mauka in USDA zone 10b

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Growing Mauka in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.

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