Everyone should grow Moringa. It’s a Superfood!
Eat it raw or cook it.
Powder the leaves. Extract oil from the seeds.
It is so wonderfully good for you and so easy to grow.
I could just send you off to all the sites I visited while learning about Moringa but where’s the fun in that. So instead I’m-a-gonna-tell-ya and I’ll list the research sites below.
You can learn heaps by reading about stuff. You’ll learn even more when you write it down and even more again if you DO IT YOURSELF.
I’ve become a big proponent of doing it myself where possible.
I grow stuff and I eat it!
I’ve been growing Moringa for about 6 months now and have been harvesting leaves twice a week for the last 2 months. Not a lot at the moment because the trees are still young but enough to add into my juice concoction that I drink daily.
If you want to see what I juice
click over there —>
Growing Moringa from seed
Moringa is a hardy, deep rooting tree that thrives in tropical and sub-tropical climates. You can grow moringa in colder regions but it will become dormant during the autumn/winter months.
Moringa likes well drained soil. The roots will rot if kept too damp. If your soil is clay add sand into your mix to help with drainage.
When planting your moringa make sure you dig a deep hole then back fill it. This gives the moringa root plenty of space to grow into.
If you are planting your moringa in a pot make sure it is deep and put some rocks or broken bricks in the bottom of the pot to help with drainage.
It is always a good idea to use the best soil you can for your plants. Supplement your soil base with sand, seasoned chicken manure and blood and bone to give your moringa tree the best possible start at life. I read somewhere that Moringa doesn’t like vermiculite. True? I dunno. But I don’t use it anyway so it’s not a decision I have to make.
Soak your SEEDs
Soak your seeds for 24 hrs prior to planting. This will help soften the tough outer protective coat allowing faster germination. Your Moringa seeds should sprout within 5-10 days. Keep them damp but don’t over water.
You can plant into pots or directly into the ground. Take care not to disturb the roots if transplanting to a final position.
If you live in a chilly region the best time to plant your new Moringa tree is spring/summer. In the (sub)-tropics you can plant all year round. Just be sure your Moringa has good drainage
Moringa thrives in semiarid, tropical and subtropical areas. So give your Moringa tree good soil, regular water and lots of sunshine…your Moringa will give you plenty in return.
Prune, Prune, Prune
Left to grow naturally you will soon have a lovely tall tree but harvesting it will be difficult as those lovely leaves will be way up high.
Prune your Moringa tree!
When you harvest leaves only cut the top half of the branch. This will force the branch to branch and before you know it you’ll have a bush
Don’t be afraid to lop the top off if it gets too tall. Every time to prune it back, moringa will come back twice as hard.
Keep your moringa tree at a manageable height for harvesting. I am aiming for 6-7 ft bushes. I’m 5.4 so I figure I can easily harvest 7 ft as the branches are fairly flexible
Reference Sites.
