Mauka in Zone 8a & 8b
Mirabilis expansa
Yes, mauka grows in zones 8a and 8b. Start seeds indoors Feb 11–Feb 18 and plant out Apr 8–Apr 15.
When to plant mauka in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Feb 11–Feb 18 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 8–Apr 15 |
| Estimated harvest | Sep 5–Sep 12 (~150 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 10 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-4 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of mauka in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- TomatoApr 8–Apr 15
- Bush BeansApr 1–Apr 8
- Sweet CornApr 1–Apr 8
- CucumberApr 1–Apr 8
- ZucchiniApr 1–Apr 8
- Winter SquashApr 1–Apr 8
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 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Mauka needs about 150 days from transplant to first harvest.
Mauka planting windows in every zone
Zone 8b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6a & 6b | Mar 14–Mar 21 | May 9–May 16 | Oct 6–Oct 13 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 24–May 1 | Sep 21–Sep 28 |
| 8a & 8b (your zone) | Feb 11–Feb 18 | Apr 8–Apr 15 | Sep 5–Sep 12 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 4–Jan 11 | Mar 1–Mar 8 | Jul 29–Aug 5 |
| 10a & 10b | Dec 19–Dec 26 | Feb 13–Feb 20 | Jul 13–Jul 20 |
| 11a & 11b | Nov 20–Nov 27 | Jan 15–Jan 22 | Jun 14–Jun 21 |
Harvest dates are about 150 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
No well-established companions for mauka.
Where to buy mauka seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries mauka seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
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 8b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Mauka in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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