The Miraculous Moringa Tree

Years ago I was visiting our local Eco nursery and saw a film on the Moringa Tree.  This tree is called miraculous because it is rich in nutrients and the healing properties it possesses.  The Moringa is grown in 3rd world countries to aid in nutrition.  All parts of the Moringa tree are edible.   I use the leaves in salads.  I don't tell my husband they're in there because it would discourage him from eating the salad...lol.  Mainly because I picked them off a tree he doesn't see as edible.  The leaves of the Moringa have 10 times the vitamin A of carrots, 17 times more calcium then milk, 25 times the iron of spinach, 15 times more potassium then bananas and 12 times more vitamin C then oranges.  They also are high in protein and fiber.  The high fiber content has proven to help with digestive problems.  I've read that the leaves are hard to harvest but I don't find that true.  As long as they are low enough to reach.  You'll see the limbs towards the bottom of mine is almost bare.  It's because we eat the leaves.  The Moringa has also proven to lower blood sugar levels because it contains Chrologenic Acid which causes the cells' to slow the absorption of sugar.  The leaves are used to make tea, which I find taste good. I also add a little honey to it.

I recently had to move mine as in one year it shot up to 15 feet and was scratching against the window.  The roots were very large so I had to work to get them out but it is now in an area that it can grow as large as it wants although, once it gets settled from the transplant, I will cut it down to about 5 feet to encourage new stem growth and I can once again reach the leaves to harvest.  A couple pictures of the move are shown below.  I used a good garden soil to fill the bottom of the hole and then mixed some water with rooting hormone to help prevent shock.

If you can obtain seeds and they can be bought at various places online - cheep - I would recommend doing so. I found them very easy to get started.  It's a pretty tree and also will provide a great, nutritious addition to your salads.  Or try to purchase a young tree.  The Moringa grows well in warm areas.

 I used a good garden soil, mixed with the dirt I dug out of the new hole.

A mixture of rooting hormone was added to water to help prevent shock and encourage new root growth.  I then put mulch around the base of the tree.

 Once it re-establishes it's self, I will cut 2 of the 3 larger limbs to encourage new stem growth down lower.

Thank you for visiting inthedirtwithjanete and I hope you'll come back to see what dirt I've gotten into next. If you have any questions, please leave a comment or email me at inthedirtwithjanete@gmail.com.   Enjoy the magic.  It's everywhere.