Germination temperature
Warm. In a Brazilian seed test at 25 °C (77 °F) 80-90% of seeds germinated; TNAU notes the strongest growth at 25-30 °C (77-86 °F).
Tree growing guide
Moringa is a fast, drought-tolerant tropical tree that is easy to raise from fresh seed and can bear drumsticks within months of planting. This guide covers sowing depth, pits, early pinching and the problems that matter most: waterlogging, hairy caterpillars and pod fly.
Warm. In a Brazilian seed test at 25 °C (77 °F) 80-90% of seeds germinated; TNAU notes the strongest growth at 25-30 °C (77-86 °F).
2.5-3 cm (1-1.2 in), two seeds per pit or one per bag.
On average 7-9 days in that test; slower in cool weather.
Seed is covered, so no light is needed to germinate; seedlings and trees need full sun.
None needed. Seed is orthodox and keeps for years if stored dry.
Both work: sow straight into pits, or raise in polybags and plant out at 35-40 days.
Moringa seed is orthodox: the World Agroforestry database reports that it stays viable for several years in airtight storage at 3 °C (37 °F) with 5-8% moisture. Keep spare seed dry, sealed and cool, and sow the plumpest seeds.
Not needed. The papery, winged husk can stay on: in the Brazilian test, seeds sown with their coat reached 90% germination and shelled seeds 80%.
Not needed. Moringa is a tropical tree with no cold requirement.
Optional. Many growers soak seed before sowing, but in the same study pre-soaking did not change germination of shelled seed. If you soak, keep it short and sow at once into moist soil.
Sow in warm weather. Seed tested at a constant 25 °C (77 °F) germinated well, and the crop grows most vigorously at 25-30 °C (77-86 °F). In the Indian plains this matches TNAU's July-October planting season; in cooler countries wait until nights stay warm or sow indoors.
2.5-3 cm (1-1.2 in) deep, as recommended by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) for annual moringa. Sow two seeds per pit in the field and thin to the stronger seedling.
A deep, well-drained soil. TNAU names a deep sandy loam with pH 6.5-8 as ideal; for polybags use a free-draining potting mix with sand and compost.
Moist, never waterlogged. TNAU irrigates before sowing and again on day 3, then every 10-15 days depending on soil. World Agroforestry notes that growth is stunted where the water table is high.
No light needed to germinate. Move seedlings into full sun as soon as they emerge.
Average germination time was 7.0 days in a greenhouse and 9.2 days in a 25 °C (77 °F) germination chamber. Cool, wet soil slows it and invites rot.
Plant polybag seedlings out at 35-40 days, before the taproot coils. TNAU uses pits 45 x 45 x 45 cm (18 in) spaced 2-2.5 m (6.5-8 ft) apart, each filled with topsoil mixed with about 15 kg of compost or farmyard manure. Fill any gaps within the first month.
Pinch out the growing tip when seedlings reach about 75 cm (30 in) to make them branch; TNAU found that pinching annual moringa around day 80 after sowing gave the highest pod yield. A bushy, low tree is also easier to harvest.
Cause: waterlogging and root rot (World Agroforestry lists Diplodia root rot). Fix: grow on raised ground or in free-draining mix, water only when the topsoil has dried, and never let pots stand in water.
Cause: the moringa hairy caterpillar (Eupterote mollifera), which rests in clusters on the bark by day. Fix: check trunks regularly and remove the clusters while they are small; TNAU recommends destroying them where they gather on the trunk.
Cause: moringa pod fly. Fix: pick and destroy damaged pods, and use fruit-fly traps (TNAU uses fermented tomato traps) from the start of pod set.
Cause: powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica). Fix: give trees full sun and open spacing, and remove badly affected shoots.
Cause: frost. A freeze can kill moringa back to the ground. Fix: in cold climates grow it in a large container and bring it indoors before frost.
Annual (seed-grown) varieties such as PKM 1 start bearing pods about four months after transplanting, according to TNAU.
TNAU cuts annual moringa back to 90 cm (3 ft) after harvest; new shoots crop again in 4-5 months and the ratoon can be repeated for about three years. Moringa also coppices and pollards well for leaf production.
Moringa is drought tolerant but yields less foliage under constant stress. Mulch, water in dry spells and add compost each year for steady growth.
Plant away from taller trees; shaded moringa grows thin and flowers poorly.
Sow drumstick seeds in warm weather for a quick-growing tree that crops within the year.
No. Fresh moringa seed germinates in about a week in warm soil without treatment, and in a Brazilian study pre-soaking did not improve germination of shelled seed. A short soak does no harm if you sow straight away.
TNAU plants annual moringa from July to October. Avoid sowing into cold or waterlogged soil.
Annual types such as PKM 1 start bearing about four months after transplanting. Perennial types are slower to come into steady bearing.
Yes, as a container plant kept indoors in winter. A freeze kills the top growth, although established plants may resprout from the base.