Mauka in Zone 11a & 11b
Mirabilis expansa
When to plant mauka in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b 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 indoors | Nov 20–Nov 27 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 15–Jan 22 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 14–Jun 21 (~150 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 10 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-4 ft.
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 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free in this dataset, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
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 11b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Mauka in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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