Susan here!
Why is Moringa so magical? There are many reasons.
Besides Vitamins A, E, and C (ounce for ounce, it has six times the amount of Vitamin C than in orange juice) it also has five times more beta-carotene than carrots, three times the iron than is found in spinach or beef and four times more calcium than found in milk!
This tree is one of the most nutritious superfoods on the planet and also has an amazing ability to purify water. Moringa seeds can reduce muddiness in water by up to 99.5 % and can also cut bacteria by as much as 99%.
Moringa is incredibly easy to grow; the seeds will grow in almost any environment. They love heat, so will become an annual in cooler climates and are ideal for zones 9-10.
They do well in all sorts of soil, however if your soil is heavy clay, it’s best to give these seeds the best start possible. Dig a hole about 6 to 12 inches deep and amend your heavy soil with lighter compost about half and half.
Plant the seeds approximately 1/2 inch deep in groups of 3 and keep the surface damp. Don’t water too heavily, as the seeds may rot. You’ll see those seedlings begin to emerge anywhere from 7-21 days, so be patient.
This tree can grow up to 16 feet in the first six months! It has an upright position, taking up little space overall and offering shade in the garden.
To harvest the leaves, you can top the tree off at whatever height you wish and it will bush out like a shrub.
These trees have a very aggressive tap root, for a good reason. That tap root will descend to deeper levels in the soil in order to bring up all the available nutrients that make it such a marvelous superfood.
In cooler climates, you can cut this tree down to the ground in the fall, and it will regrow in the spring! What could be more magical than that?
Grow your own moringa and reap all the many benefits this plant provides!
Happy digging,
Susan
