Moringa

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Moringa Oleifera is absolutely a Godsend: a prolific, tropical Tree with amazing nutritional profile, it is a prime candidate for Indoor Growing as a sustainable source of nutrition.

Nutrition

It's remarkable -- a summary could be added here, but for now, see:

Other Benefits

Blood Sugar

More studies are needed, but early ones suggest Moringa may assist the body in regulating blood sugar. One such study indicated that diabetic patients adding 50 grams of Moringa leaves to a meal reduced the rise in blood sugar by 21%. [1]

Cultivation

Generally, Moringa trees grow very tall in a short period of time. I am experimenting with Drawf Moringa seeds as well, but have not much to show for it yet.

Plan on pinching or cutting off the top branches/leaves (once it's about 4 feet tall) to direct the growth of your tree. Doing this will cause the branches to sprout lower on the tree and make them spread outward instead of upward, so you can actually reach the damn thing to harvest new shoots.

Temperature / Winter Care

Being tropical, Moringas like heat. If temps fall below 35'F and the tree is planted in the ground, you may be able to protect it by:

  • using banana peels or a heavy bedding around the base of the tree to mulch or
  • blankets -- remove these during the day to preclude fungus from growing on the blanket
  • Christmas lights, or similar, can be kept lit during cold nights and actually help in protecting the Moringa (especially with base covered as well). The key is to use inefficient lighting! Not the newer types; remember you are actually seeking the HEAT production, not the light.

If you do lose a Moringa to freeze, mark where the roots are, and once it warms up again, water that area. In many cases you can regrow.


If planted in containers, move it indoors or into a covered area (garage).

References