Moringa oleifera, or drumstick are the pods of the horse radish tree which were first cultivated in parts of Indian peninsula, Africa and the mediterranean. In India, the vegetable is quite a popular addition to many types of curries and broths. The long and dark-skinned pods of Moringa plants can grow upto 15 to 18 inches in length. The soft flesh inside the pod is ivory in colour and holds the seeds in hulls. The flesh of the pods is mildly bittersweet and can go well with a variety of different recipes specially Sambhar, soup and curries. Moringa is fairly rich in nutrients like beta carotene, vitamin C, iron and copper. Moringa is also cultivated for oil which is now being widely used in the skin care industry.
How To Grow
Planting instructions
Moringa is a taproot plant/tree which requires plenty of room below soil for its roots. Start by digging at least 20 inches deep in the ground where you wish to grow the plant. Add organic manure like cow dung with coconut coir to enrich the planting area. Water the area one day before planting and keep the soil evenly moist. Plant the seed at a depth of 1 cm in the ground. The seeds should germinate within 15 to 20 days of planting.
Growing Requirements
pests
Although Moringa plant is resistant to most pests, some waterborne root diseases such as Diplodia root rot. This can be managed by ensuring that the planting area is not saturated with water and is getting ample sunlight during the day to dry off. In addition to this, caterpillars and termites can also pose some problems from time to time. You can protect the plant from these pests with some organic neem oil or castor oil.
soil
Moringa plants can easily be grown in well-drained soil rich with organic manure mixed with coconut coir. Do not use clay soils for growing these plants since the long taproot below the soil surface may not be able to take shape properly.
spot
Moringa plant prefers a sunny spot to grow and develop it’s trunk. An ideal spot to grow Moringa plant should receive 6-8 hours of sunlight everyday.
temperature
Ideal germination temperature for Moringa Seeds must range between 21 to 35 °C(70 to 95 °F).
watering
Moringa plants are mostly drought tolerant hence are ideal for warm climates. Keep the soil evenly moist until the plant has established woody trunks. After that, you can reduce the frequency to only when the soil feels dry to the touch.
how to harvest
Harvest Moringa pods just when they can snap easily. The yield may be relatively low during the first year of planting and will gradually increase with each passing year. In North India, Moringa plants will give harvest during the summer while in South India, the harvest occurs twice in a year. When you want to harvest Moringa plant for the oil, let the pods dry and turn brown on the plant.
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