How to Grow Lepidium Meyenii

Mix equal amounts of sand, peat moss and average potting soil together to form a smooth, mixed medium.

Fill the biodegradable seed pots two-thirds full of your soil mixture.

Place three or four Lepidium meyenii seeds evenly over the surface of the soil in each pot.

Sprinkle the soil mixture over the seeds, covering them to a depth equal to about two or three times their diameter. Use your fingertips to compress the soil over the buried seeds.

Set the small pots in a drip tray to catch any excess water, and mist the tops of the pots with a spray bottle to dampen the surface of the soil. Apply about six or seven quick spritzes of water to disperse a fine sheen over the entire soil surface.

Cover the seed tray with a loose sheet of plastic kitchen wrap.

Place the plants in a location that receives at least eight to 10 hours of direct sunlight each day. Keep the soil evenly moist and watch for the young seedlings to appear above the soil within two to three weeks. Remove the plastic wrap when the seedlings emerge to minimize the possibility of fungal diseases.

Keep the soil slightly damp near the roots as the small seedlings begin to grow and develop leaves. Check the moisture at the level of the roots by inserting a fingertip about 1 inch deep into the corner of the seed tray. The soil at this depth should feel a little cool and damp on the tip of your finger. Depending on the amount of humidity within your home, you may need to apply between 1/8 and 1/4 inch of water to the surface of the soil every two to three days.

Pinch out all but the strongest Lepidium meyenii seedling in each seed pot after the second set of leaves appear.

Transplant the small seedlings into larger pots, using the same blended soil medium.

Fertilize the Lepidium meyenii seedlings with a vegetable fertilizer labeled for use on root vegetables, such as turnips. Regular feedings help supply the abundant amount of nutrients these plants rely on in their native environment.

Harvest the roots about seven months after the date of planting. Like beets, carrots and radishes, watering the soil about six to eight hours before harvesting will soften the soil and make harvesting easier.