View Full Version : Anyone growing Moringa?
momoese
08-23-2013, 02:53 PM
Moringa - The Miracle Tree - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDSksjGNCA)
Richard
08-23-2013, 04:09 PM
Yes. Very slow from seed in the San Diego coastal-influenced environment. Fast growth from pencil-size cuttings. Of course in the tropical pacific it grows like a rocket. The health benefits are way overblown. It's no panacea -- except for making a profit from fad food buyers.
momoese
08-23-2013, 04:44 PM
I found some 5' trees, going to pick one up next week.
They growe very nicely from seed also.
Mye e nieghbor asked the same question and we ended up planting six in his yard, but they'll never gey overgrown lol.
We eat the leaves like any other green, soup, salad, in fish patties..... fast growing is high on my list (talkin to you Mr. Longan)
. It's no panacea -- except for making a profit from fad food buyers.
Your cynicism is refreshing Richard.
Dalmatiansoap
08-23-2013, 06:00 PM
how hardy is it?
Seed form a large taproot so water wise Id say its good to go.
No idea on cold, but with a root like that resprouting after a freeze to the ground should be pretty reliable.
sunfish
08-23-2013, 06:42 PM
hardy har har
momoese
08-23-2013, 07:22 PM
how hardy is it?
Wiki says zone 9
shannondicorse
08-23-2013, 07:40 PM
Hi,
I am. But I'm in the tropics; so I don't know if what I have to say is very relevant.
On soils of low bulk density they grow fast. Clays might be another matter.
I have four phenotypically distinct accessions ( from 4 provenances). I plant from seed when breeding. I also routinely plant from small log pieces 2" - 3" diameter & 4' long at the inception of the rainy season. They grow really fast from these thick sticks... one of mine - a "tall" type exceeds 20 ft height within one year when planted this way.
I think that while nothing is a panacea, Moringa oleifera is worth looking at for its health benefits. This in contrast to Morinda citrifolia which was once in vogue and way over-hyped.
Naturally, a wise diet; sleep at night; exercise; and freedom from stress are prerequisites to health.
shannon
shannon.di.corse@gmail.com
redswe
08-24-2013, 09:55 AM
In Zone 9b it will dieback if we have a freeze but always comes back .. very similar to most bananas I grow... As far as health benefits it is relatively high in vitamins protein and minerals , easily grown in areas where many people's diet lack what it has to offer. how hardy is it?
Dalmatiansoap
08-24-2013, 10:01 AM
leaves die back or?
Snookie
08-24-2013, 10:09 AM
I want to grow one how do I go about getting seeds are whatever to give it a go?
Thanks
Snookie
momoese
08-24-2013, 10:29 AM
I want to grow one how do I go about getting seeds are whatever to give it a go?
Thanks
Snookie
There are seeds available from several sources online, a quick google search will yield plenty of finds. Seedlings and bigger plants are harder to find but they are out there. Maybe one of our growers here can offer some seeds or plants?
momoese
08-24-2013, 10:32 AM
I have four phenotypically distinct accessions ( from 4 provenances).
Shannon is there much difference between them? Can you explain a little more? Thanks
Yohanan
08-24-2013, 11:34 AM
I have one plant, but in my climate zone (7a) I must to keep her over winter in my house. She grow very fast, and don't need to much water.
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/57/kgbg.jpg
redswe
08-24-2013, 01:06 PM
Depending on how cold it will loose its leaves in the winter when it freezes it will have to be cut back ... I generally cut it back to the ground if it is a hard freeze ... No mater what you will need to cut it back once a year it can grow 20ft tall in a season.. Keeping it kinda bush like helps so you can pick the leaves. Its in flower now in another month or 2 it will put out seed pods.
I have 2 types one which gets tall and I am trying another one that claims it stays shorter I have seeds from the shorter one , they are big size of acorns and germinate readily.
Seeds are cheap on ebay or send me a pm I have a few to share for trade or postage
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=54342&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=54342&ppuser=7077)
shannondicorse
08-24-2013, 05:32 PM
Shannon is there much difference between them (the writer, momoese, is referring here to the difference in phenotype among my Moringa accessions)? Can you explain a little more? Thanks
Yes, apart from the difference in leaflet shape; there are pod differences; branching differences, fecundity and so on. I have yet to test plant on different soils; and I need to grow seedlings out for examination of heterozygousity - see how the self-pollinated seedlings differ in type. If I get lots of different off types - YAY! - I can be sure that my original accession was rather heterozygous.
I can imagine that things like seed oil yield; leaf & drumstick nutrient & phytochemical ciontent; taste; cooking behavior; tolerance to heat, drought, waterlogging, cold; etc might be perhaps be variable.
If this is indeed true I'd be able to then select clones of desirable segregates - stout stick cuttings - that I can propagate.
Hope I didn't stray!
shannon
shannon.di.corse@gmail.com
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