MORINGA, need I say more
Comments
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Click on (4) in paragraph 4/last paragraph and you should be able to open a plethora of citations and references.
What is moringa?
Let’s start with some history (and science!): Its scientific name is Moringa oleifera, and it is a distant relative of vegetables like broccoli, kale and cabbage, of which it shares many nutritious compounds.
It is cultivated mainly for its fruit, known as pods, and its leaves, both of which are regularly used in South and Southeast Asian food recipes. However, other parts of the moringa tree are also used. Moringa oil is extracted from the kernels that come from the tree. The roots, fruits, and bark are also edible. These have been used for centuries as food items or ingredients in traditional medicine.
The Food and Agriculture Organization acknowledges moringa as an “economically most valuable species” and called it “crop of the month” back in September 2014 (2). The moringa tree is a valuable resource for many regions of the world because almost every part of it is functional. The tree is also extremely drought-tolerant and grows quickly. The seeds, in particular, can naturally purify unclean water, an important feature especially for water-scarce regions of the world (3).
The history of this super functional tree dates back over 2,000 years. Ancient royal families consumed moringa for mental alertness, and some used it as a cosmetic to maintain a healthy complexion (4). Moringa leaf extract was used as a drink by ancient Indians, and it was given to their warriors who viewed it as an elixir that could give them extra wakefulness for battles.
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Yes, Moringa is yet another... of MANY ! plants I have been wanting to grow for years... - But so many trees & bushes originate in "Southeast Asia", that I have No idea would they even stand a chance to produce in North America, especially close to the Canadian border. ??
Another factor = with everything that looks & sounds so nutritionally Irresistible, (especially when others in like Southern California, & Florida & Arizone are succeeding with such ASIAN plants), is to then think "okay, if I don't Add yet another one cultivation task to my (already-way-too-many) expectations, will I think of myself as a failure? - And with everything that I already have on my plate, I need successes...
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I too have a plant wishlist. This is one I know I won't be able to grow without a functional greenhouse (Zone 6b here). I found some growing instructions: https://moringafarms.com/growing-moringa/ It sounds like a wonderful plant.
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Thank you @VickiP - had seen several other sites, but not this. Their Seed-picture gives one more hope. 🙂
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I've been aware of the wonderful health benefits of moringa for a couple of years now and this year, decided to get some seed and try growing it. I live in Zone 7b so I planted it in pots so I could move it when it got cold. I have a small greenhouse I use for seed starting, but we are also building a larger one for our aquaponics.
I planted 3 trees to start with until the larger greenhouse is ready. One of them got infested with japanese beetle grubs which chewed off about half of the root ball before I found them as I was transplanting them to larger pots. They stunted it's growth quite a bit but it is still hanging in there.
So far they are all 3 surviving in my little greenhouse. They've already reached the top so I will have to move them into the larger greenhouse soon. They have these pretty, delicate white flowers that grow on them. I didn't know they grew blossoms, so I was surprised to see them.
To start with, I plan to dehydrate and powder the leaves and fill some capsules with it for my husband because he doesn't like drinking tea. I prefer the tea. I'll also put some in my greens powder for using in smoothies. Can't wait to try it and see what kind of difference it makes!
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Wow, I look all the time for new info on moringa and I never found this one...and it is great. Thank you so much!!
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I appreciate your experience. I live in zone 7 as well and will plant my first tree early 2020. Great to have people to compare results with so we can all learn.
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I got two very small ones (about three inches high) at the Master Gardener Spring plant sale. I put one in the back yard (zone 8b) and one in a pot to overwinter inside. The one in the ground grew much better, reaching about three feet. I covered it before our very early hard freeze. The one in the pot only reached about a foot and a half.
I sure hope the one in the back yard survives because the one in the house might not. Now bear in mind it did go into shock for a few weeks after first coming inside. It was starting to perk up...until my Yorkie discovered it. He must have heard about the health benefits because when I caught him he had stripped every branch off and broken the top off of it as well. I swatted and scolded him with the few remaining branches he had not eaten. So...will it survive? Lol, I sure hope so!
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Where did you get your plants and how much did they cost?
I'm hoping to have more growing information soon and if so I will post. Don't give up on your plants and on the outside one be sure and cover the area with lots of straw or somthing to help keep the root from freezing and you should see it shoot up in the spring when it warms enough. Be ready to cut it back every month ish as it grows about 12 feet per month I think I am remembering that correct?? They do grow very fast and as long as you keep up with the growth it is easy to manage and harvest from as it becomes more bushy and not so tall you can't harvest from the upper parts loosing lots of healthy leaves...
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@silvertipgrizz thank you, nope, not giving up lol. I did form a cardboard "cage" around the potted one to keep the dog out lol. From what I have read if you don't keep "topping and pruning" it will grow straight up as high as 40 feet and you will have very little yield in terms of flowers and pods. Here is a site that has a lot of info:
I got mine as very little ones in a 4 inch pot. One of the master gardeners in my area had started at least two flats that I saw, and had them for sale at the Spring Master Gardener's Sale here in Waco, TX for $1.50 each. I was ecstatic lol. I dried the pruned leaves as I cut them this past year and then powdered and added them to my "green" powder (also has lamb's quarter, beet greens, a little bit of comfrey leaves, turnip greens and Swiss chard leaves).
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This is one that I am curious about. Not necessarily growing it, but using it in food or drink. I don't care to take capsules if I don't have to, but am curious about how it tastes, and if anyone sees a real benefit from it.
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@seeker.nancy I have 2 in a pot and 1 in the ground. At on point in time or another I thought each of them had died, but they all came back. The key is they don’t transplant well so make sure it is a large pot. I am in zone 9a and they do really well here.
I topped mine at about 3 feet to keep it bushy. The more water they get the more they grow as long as it drains well. I think they grow 12 feet a year, because most people here only do a large harvest once a year. You can do small harvests year round. My daughters dog loves my tree as well and will chew on any of the smaller branches that I left as a chop and drop, especially when they are green. Once it starts to flower and grow pods you can keep tons of seeds or give them away. I am already sharing seeds with family, friends, and neighbors.
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@silvertipgrizz yes that was a great price lol. I've been using moringa capsules for at least 6 months now. They do give me more energy but not in a buzzy way like caffeine (@Mary Linda Bittle ). Because they were so small I did not get to do a lot of harvesting but realize now I could have taken more lol. I hope by next year I'll have enough to do away with the capsules.
@gardneto than you for the encouragement that they may live lol. The one in a pot is in a large pot, in fact my daughter who carried it in for me said I was trying to kill her lol.
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I have some resources if you would like. From talking to diff people that grow it, this spring will be the testing ground for me but it sounds pretty easy with know how specific to the plant.
Just let me know, it may take me a week to get it posted as the kids will be home for holidays tomorrow but will get it posted asap.
May I ask what resources you have as it might be something that would add to my info?
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Here's another link to a pdf that explains how to germinate and grow moringa including topping and pruning, care and harvesting. https://moringafarms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Growing-Moringa-for-Personal-or-Community-Use.pdf
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