Grow a Moringa Tree

For edible landscaping, a Moringa tree is hard to beat. This versatile tree can be grown year-round in any tropical climate, and successfully grown as an annual, in temperate zones.

Fast-growing, nutritious, and lovely to behold, Moringa is gaining in popularity daily. What could be easier than walking into your yard, and gathering healthy greens to put on the table?

Steps

 * 1)  Obtain some Moringa seeds from one of the many sources that sell them. There are several varieties, but the seeds of Moringa oleifera and Moringa stenopetala are the easiest to obtain. In the photo, the Moringa oleifera seeds are the brown, winged seeds in the photo; on the left hand side. The Moringa stenopetala seeds are the tan ones in the photo; on the right hand side. It is apparent that they hardly resemble each other, but both are Moringa seeds.
 * 2) *For a fast-growing tree that will bear leaves, blossoms and seed pods - called drumsticks, the first year - choose Moringa Oleifera. Here is a very good illustration, of why it is best to keep your Moringa trees at a manageable height; it makes harvesting the leaves and pods much easier to do. The drumsticks shown, hanging from the Moringa tree, contain the Moringa tree's seeds. They can be planted as soon as the pod is dry, or stored for planting later.
 * 3) *If you want a fast-growing tree with much larger leaves, making the task of gathering them for a meal easier, opt for Moringa Stenopetala.
 * 4) *The flowers and seed pods take longer to develop on the African variety of Moringa - Moringa Stenopetala.
 * 5) *The seeds are very different, but they both grow Moringa trees. In actuality, the seeds are basically the same size; but, you can see they are not alike in appearance. Moringa Oleifera seeds are round, brown, and winged. Moringa Stenopetala seeds, out of their husk, are almond-shaped and light tan in color.
 * 6)  Decide where you would like to grow your Moringa tree. Keep in mind that Moringa trees can grow over 20 feet tall, their first year. The average growth is about 15 feet, however, in optimum conditions, they can grow much taller. Because the branches will grow, on the average, to about three to four feet wide the first year, you will need to consider whether you want to plant your Moringa tree close to any existing structures. Moringas need a lot of sunlight, warmth, and water, in order to thrive - so think about where your tree will obtain the best exposure to the sun.
 * 7)  Get the best organic potting soil that you can find. Moringas do not like heavy, clay-like soil or vermiculite. They will grow in poor soil, sandy soil, and depleted soil, but they do not like their roots getting wet. Bear this in mind, and if necessary, purchase sand to add to the potting soil mixture, or use whatever soil is available in your area, and add coconut coir, peat moss, perlite, or sand to loosen it. This gives the roots of the Moringa tree room to spread out, go deep, and drain well. Moringa can be grow as a solitary tree, in rows, or as a hedge.
 * 8) *If you would like to grow it as a hedge, plant the seeds into the ground, about 1 foot apart. Pinch back every other new leaf growth, to force the tree to grow like a bush, and once they are about 2 feet tall, cut the branches in half lengthwise, and pinch back the new leaf growth that will sprout out at the top of the Moringa tree.
 * 9) *If you are going to grow your Moringas in rows, then plant the seeds about 3 feet apart, in rows that are at least 6 feet apart, for easy weed removal and walking through the rows.
 * 10) *If you are going to grow your Moringa as a solitary tree, just remember to give it plenty of room, so its branches can spread out. Periodically, cut back the top of the tree, to encourage new growth, and cut the branches' length back, by half. This will insure that your Moringas thrive, and give you lots of beautiful flowers, edible leaves, and drumsticks - for years to come.
 * 11)  Make a hole in the soil, and plant the Moringa seeds about ¾" to 1" deep, cover with soil, and tamp it into place. Make a note of when you planted the seed or seeds, so you can monitor their growth. Once you have covered the seeds, thoroughly water the soil. Whether you plant the seeds in pots, or right into the ground, they will need a thorough soaking every day, until you see the seedling emerge from the soil. Once they have sprouted, they can be watered once every other day, until they are about 18 inches tall. Then, once a week will be sufficient.
 * 12) *Some people soak the seeds in water until they sprout, and then plant them. This method also works, but Moringa seeds are very hardy, and do not really need this additional step.

Tips

 * The leaves are edible, and there are many places, online, that will tell you how to incorporate them into your diet.
 * The flowers buds and blossoms can be cooked slightly and eaten, as a nourishing vegetable.
 * Keep those pruning shears handy, as the more you prune them, the faster they will grow.
 * The leaves, pods, flowers buds, blossoms, and seeds can all be eaten. The flower buds and blossoms must be cooked, the seeds should be cooked, but the leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.
 * One alternative is propagation by stem cuttings. Select branches with about 2 to 2.5 inch diameter and cut the same for a length of about 2 to 2.5 feet. The bottom must be cut in a slanting fashion to expose more surface area to the soil. The top is to be cut neatly and it is to be covered with cow dung or straw and covered with plastic sheet to prevent exposure of the cut surface to the sun. Then the cutting can be planted in the soil with about 9 inches of stem under the ground. Periodically water them and fresh leaves will emerge from the stem. The advantage of using a stem cutting for planting is that it is quick growing and comes to flowering faster than the plant raised from seed. Moreover the plant raised from cutting retains all the qualities of the mother plant.
 * One individual in Florida has had excellent success, propogating Moringa trees with cuttings of various sizes, by putting branches - trimmed as instructed above, into a large potting container filled with soil. The cuttings need to be watered thoroughly, every day, and the water allowed to drain off freely. Within approximately two weeks, budding leaves will be produced along the cutting, and often seedlings will spring up from the base.

Warnings

 * Worldwide, some people eat the root. Do not eat the root. It tastes like horseradish, but the root's bark contains a powerful neurotoxin. In large enough quantities, it can be fatal. Leave the roots alone.
 * Constantly trim your Moringas. Maintain your Moringa tree at a height of about 6 feet maximum, if you wish to be able to reach its harvest. If you do not, you will eventually have a very tall, very thin tree, with branches at the very top; inaccessible, and unattractive.
 * Moringa is drought-resistant, but is NOT cold tolerant. Freezes will cause it to die back.

Things You'll Need

 * Moringa seeds
 * Loose potting soil
 * A sunny location for the Moringas
 * Water
 * Pruning shears or scissors

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Germinate Tree Seeds
 * How to Grow Banana Plants
 * How to Plant an Avocado Tree
 * How to Grow Your Own Food