The tree is known as moringa tree, drumstick tree, सहजन (sahjan) in Hindi, horseradish tree and benzoil tree [1].
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| Moringa tree |
The Moringa Tree Growing Zones
The moringa, native to India is cultivated in Mediterranean, tropical and subtropical areas [2]. In USA, the tree can be grown in USDA Zones 9 through 11. |
| Moringa seeds |
In temperate climate, grow it in a large pot and place it in the sunniest part of your garden. The tree will go dormant below 18° C. As the tree is not frost tolerant, it will die in extreme cold weather. In such climatic conditions either grow your moringa tree in a large container or cover the tree with blankets or use Christmas lights if possible. It is, however, better to grow moringa as an annual plant from spring to autumn.
I am growing moringa tree in Sydney from seeds. I have yet not tried growing moringa tree from cuttings.
The leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant [3,4, 5]. Due to these moringa nutrition, moringa offers many health benefits in weight loss, blood pressure, skin, hair and brain health (moringa health benefits).
How To Grow Moringa Tree : Moringa Propagation
The moringa tree can be propagated easily from seeds and cuttings. It is a fast growing tree which produces drumsticks 8 months after sowing seeds. I tried to buy a moringa tree in Sydney, but I could get in garden shops, so I decided to grow a moringa tree from seed.Growing Moringa Tree from Seed
Moringa Seed Germination
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| Moringa Seed Germination |
- I got moringa seeds from a garden seed supplier on ebay.
- The moringa seeds can be germinated at any time of the year. I have grown moringa tree from seeds successfully in Sydney, Australia.
- Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours.
- Sow the seeds about a inch deep in 10 cm pot containing free-draining soil, a mix of potting mix and 50% river sand in equal amount.
- Place the pot in sun and keep the soil damp.
- The moringa seeds will germinate in 5 to 15 days under ideal temperatures for germination 20-30°C (70-90°F). If the temperature is low, you can seal the pot in a polythene bag to maintain high humidity and keep the pot in a warm area indoors. This way moringa will grow indoors.
Transplanting the Baby Moringa Plants
Transplant the moringa baby plant when it is 1 foot (30 cm) high. Be careful in transplanting, do not damage the tap root and disturb the root system.Now the question is how long does it take to grow moringa from seed. The moringa tree grown from seed may take take up to 8 months to fully mature and produce flowers and fruits.
Caring For Moringa Tree
Soil For Moringa Tree
The moringa tree is not fussy about soil, they can grow rapidly in any soils, but prefers a neutral to slightly acidic (pH 6.3 to 7.0) soil. The soil or growing moringa tree should be free draining and nutrition rich sandy or loamy soil. Add river sand to the soil to make it free-draining and cow manure and compost to make it rich in nutrients.Location: Where to Plant Moringa
Plant moringa tree in a sunny place in your garden where it gets at least 5 hours of sunlight daily. It grows best in temperatures 25 to 35° C (77 to 95° F). In winter you have to take special care to protect and save your moringa (how to grow and save moringa tree in winter).Watering
Water daily to the young plant. Water less frequently, once the plant is established. Moringa is drought tolerant, but you should have an eye on the plant. You should immediately water the plant when its leaves start to sag.Fertilizer For Moringa Tree
Fertilizing your moringa tree is not essential if you have added manure and compost in the soil. You can feed the plant by liquid fertilizer.Pruning
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| Moringa Seedling |
It is advised to prune the tree when it is 4 feet tall to grow new branches. each branches should be cut back to 1 foot. each year you can prune the tree to a height of 4 -5 feet after the fruits have finished. Regular and frequent pruning will keep the moringa tree in bushier shape.
Pest control
The moringa tree is pest resistant so normally there will not be any pest problem (moringa tree diseases). However, sometimes, caterpillars, aphids, fruit flies, etc. can cause minor damage. If the tree is infested, do not spray anything other than a dilute solution of neem oil, or just chop off the infected leaves and branch.Harvesting Moringa Leaves and Pods
- Almost all parts of the moringa tree are edible. Start harvesting leaves when the plant reaches about a foot high.
- Immature seed pods, known as drumsticks in India contain dietary fiber, potassium, manganese and magnesium.
- The moringa seeds look like peas, contain vitamins C and B and can be eaten like peas.
Video on growing moringa tree from seed
how to grow moringa tree from seeds video
how to germinate and grow moringa seeds video
Growing moringa in containers
How to keep moringa tree small video
How to save moringa in winter video
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References
1. Moringa oleifera, Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).2. Moringa oleifera (horseradish tree)
3. Oduro I, Ellis WO, Owusu D, Nutritional potential of two leafy vegetables: Moringa oleifera and Ipomoea batatas leaves. Scientific Research and Essay. 3 (2) (2008). PDF
4. USDA Food Products Database
5. C. Gopalan; B. V. Rama Sastri; S. C. Balasubramanian, Nutritive Value of Indian Foods. Hyderabad: National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research. pp. 66, 78 919710