Moringa Seeds

Description

(Moringa oleifera)
Moringa is a magical plant that is native to the foothills of the Himalayas in Northwest India and Northeast Pakistan. It’s leaves have a mild taste and contains at least 92 nutrients including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and is a complete protein! It’s a perennial, deciduous softwood tree that thrives in hot tropical conditions and is also known as the Drumstick Tree, Horseradish Tree, and Ben Oil Tree. Herbalists and healers love Moringa for it’s beneficial properties and we personally love the way that it looks and tastes too!

When growing Moringa from seed start by soaking the seed overnight for up to 24 hours to prepare the seeds for germination. Then place them in a bag to preserve moisture until the seed sprouts. Applying bottom heat can help speed up the time it takes to germinate. Typically it takes 3-14 days for germination to occur. You can plant your seeds directly after they are harvested as they have no dormancy period. Plant your seeds 1” deep into the soil. Keep your soil moist, but not wet as Moringa does not like wet “feet”. We recommend growing in sandy loam to prevent water draining issues. If starting your seeds indoors transplant when the roots are well established, there are several leaves, and the temperature is steadily above 75 °F. Harden off by allowing your seedling to sit outside each day for an hour or two. Increase the amount of time it is outside until it can handle the stress.

If you are growing Moringa to harvest its leaves we recommend growing in rows. Plant your seeds 4-6” apart with your rows being about 3 feet apart. This should allow you enough space for harvesting leaves throughout the season. Keep in mind you will want to prune your plants to keep more of a hedge-like shape for easy harvesting rather than a tree form. You can also top these plants for a bushier growth habit. Their natural habit will form a tree that is 25-35’ tall and 15-25’ wide under optimal growing conditions.

In addition to starting your Moringa plants from seed, you can start them from a cutting and see their blooms within 8 months. To propagate by cuttings decide if you will start them outdoors or inside. If you will be starting them outside, cut a 1” diameter twig that is at least 6’ long. Plant 3’ deep for a strong root system to develop quickly. If starting indoors, take a cutting of a ¼-½” in circumference branch that is only 8-12” long. We recommend dipping your cuttings into a rooting hormone to stimulate quick root development. Pot in a container that is at least 20” or bigger. Keep your cuttings in a shaded area or greenhouse location with light. After 2-3 weeks your plants should be rooted and ready to be hardened off before outdoor planting.