Moringa aka Tree of Life - Tropical Super Food Heirloom SeedsMoringa oleiferaListing is for 1 packet of 15 seedsMoringa oleifera is a fast-growing subtropical, drought-resistant tree. Common names include moringa, drumstick tree, and horseradish tree. Leaves are typically used to make a caffeine-free tea. The leaves can also be dried and blended into powder form so it can be added into smoothies. The leaves are considered a super food, as it is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and high in plant based protein. It also contains all eight essential amino acids. Moringa contains 7x the Vitamin C found in oranges, 4x the calcium of milk, 4x the Vitamin A of carrots, 3x the potassium of bananas and essential trace minerals such as iron and zinc. Does best in zones 9 and warmer as it is a tropical plant. It is very fast growing and the leaves/branches are used for "chop and drop" garden practices and composting. The leaves can be soaked for a few days in water and then blended to make an all natural fertilizer. Can also be used to feed chickens. The tree can get up to 40 feet high at maturity. It is common to cut the tree down to its trunk to make it continuously put on new growth.PLANTING & GROWINGGermination: 1-4 weeks, it takes a long time to germinate because of its hard shell. Soak in water for 24 hours before planting into a a larger sized container filled with seed starting mix. Use a heat mat to speed up germination. Seed Sowing Depth: lightly cover with soil, about 1/2 inchSowing: Start in doors 2-3 months before your last frost date. This is a subtropical plant and it does not tolerate weather below 40 degrees Fahrenheit well. It is perennial in zones 9 and warmer. If your in a colder zone, then bring in doors for the winter. Sun: Moringa grows best in full sun but can handle some partial shade Soil: Moringa is not picky when it comes to soil and will grow well in poor soils like my native Florida sandy soil Water: Does not like growing in water logged soil as this will cause root rot. Once established, mature moringa trees are very drought tolerant and survive my natural rain fall cycles here in Florida without me having to water it. Cold Hardiness: Moringa is a tropical plant and does not grow well in the cold. It is cold hardy (if grown outdoors) down to USDA garden zone 9. Harvesting the Leaves: Young tender new growth are the best leaves to harvest if eating fresh. Older leaves get tough. Commercial moringa farms harvest every 2-3 weeks which encourages the plant to constantly be putting on new growth. Harvest leaves before bad storms or hurricanes. Otherwise the strong winds will defoliate the trees and you will loose the harvest. Using the Leaves: Moringa leaves are excellent as an ingredient to make compost or can be used as a green maure/mulch around plants. Moringa leaves can be used to me a liquid fertilizer for plants (see my video linked below). The leaves can also be dried for longer storage. Once dry, the leaves can be blended in a blender to turn into a fine powder which is easy to add to drinks like smoothies. Pruning/Cutting Moringa Trees: Moringa will grow to a tall tree, over 30FT tall which can make harvesting difficult. It is highly reccomended that you hard prune the tree down to your height so harvesting is easy and it keeps the tree compact in size. Literally cut the tree at the trunk. Trust me it will grow back. My YouTube videos on growing or using moringa How to get better germination when growing moringa from seeds: https://youtu.be/2nHDF2v01rk How to make a liquid fertilizer for your plants using moringa: https://youtu.be/btlI-TogrRI How to harvest, dry, and process moringa leaves into powder: https://youtu.be/oiDPnLGB1eA
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