How much does Moringa oleifera seed cost per jin in China, and how do you grow it?
The efficacy and nutritional value of moringa have been recognized by many people, and more and more people are buying moringa seeds online. So how much does Moringa oleifera seed cost per jin in China? The price range of moringa seeds traded in China is about 800 yuan to 1500 yuan per kilogram. The price of moringa tea is 700 yuan to 1500 yuan per kilogram. Generally, domestically grown ones are a bit cheaper, while wild ones from abroad are a bit more expensive.
How to grow Moringa oleifera seeds
1. Ways to obtain seeds
One way to obtain seeds is to buy them in a store. There are many varieties here, but Moringa peregrina and Moringa oleifera seeds are the easiest to get. As seen in the photo below, Moringa peregrina seeds are brown and wing-like; as seen in the photo on the right, Moringa oleifera seeds are yellowish-brown. Obviously, they are not similar, but both are moringa seeds.
As a fast-growing tree, they also grow leaves, flower and bear fruit——called drumsticks. Choose Moringa peregrina in the first year. In addition, keeping the moringa tree at a controllable height is best. Why? Very simply, because this makes it easier to harvest the leaves and seed pods. Hang the drumsticks containing moringa seeds at the top of the tree. When the pods are dry, plant them, or store them to plant later. If you want those trees to grow fast and have many leaves so that you can conveniently collect them to complete cooking tasks, then choose Moringa oleifera. In Africa, those flowers and pods take longer to cultivate into various varieties of moringa——Moringa oleifera. Although moringa seeds all grow on one tree, they are nevertheless completely different. In fact, the seeds are basically the same in size, but they do not look alike in appearance. Moringa seeds are round and brown, wing-like. After shelling, the seeds are almond-shaped and light brown.
2. Choosing a location for planting the moringa tree
Decide where you want to plant the moringa tree. Please remember that in the first year, the moringa tree may exceed 6 m in height. Their average growing height is about 4.5 m; however, under optimal conditions, they will grow taller. Generally speaking, because the branches will grow to a circumference range of 0.9 m to 1.2 m in the first year, you need to consider whether you should plant the tree near a building. Moringa trees need plenty of sunlight and a warm, humid environment——so you should consider the location with the best light exposure for the moringa tree.
3. Use organic potting soil
Find the best organic potting soil you can. Moringa trees are not suitable for growing in hard soil, clay or vermiculite soil. They are mostly suited to growing in poor soil, sandy soil and lean soil, but their roots do not need too much water. If necessary, buy some sand and mix it with potting soil, or use soil available near you mixed with coconut coir, peat, perlite or loose soil. All of these allow the moringa tree roots to grow freely downward and drain fully. Moringa trees have a taproot, which means they have only a single root that can grow downward, like a carrot. They have small absorbing roots, but no branches. Therefore, plant the moringa seeds in a place with enough space for them to grow downward. If you are going to plant it in a growing pot, find as deep a growing pot as possible. Moringa trees can be planted individually, in rows, or in circles.
If you want to plant it in a circle, put it into the soil about 30 cm from the ground. Prune the newly grown leaves to force them to grow like a bush. Once they reach 60 cm tall, cut the branches vertically halfway and prune the new leaves that are about to sprout at the top of the tree; if you plan to plant moringa trees in rows, then the spacing between each seed is about 0.9 m, and the spacing between each row is at least 1.8 m, so that it is convenient to remove weeds and allow people to pass through; if you plan to plant a single tree, remember to leave enough space to ensure the leaves can fully spread out. Regularly prune the top of the tree to promote growth, cutting the branches in half. All of these will ensure the moringa tree thrives, and after a few years, they can produce many beautiful flowers, edible leaves and fruit.
4. Dig a hole and plant in the pit
Dig a hole and put the moringa seeds into a pit about 2 to 2.5 cm deep. Cover with soil and firm it. After planting the seeds, leave a marker so that you can observe their growth. Once covered with soil, water the soil thoroughly. Whether you plant them in a pot or in the ground, they need to be watered thoroughly every day. Once they sprout, you can water them every other day until they are 4.8 m tall. After that, watering once a week is enough.
Some people soak the seeds in water until they sprout, and only then plant them. This method also works, but moringa seeds are very vigorous, so this extra step is not needed.
Tips
Following the instructions above, place the pruned tree into a large pot filled with soil. These trees need to be watered every day, and the water must be able to drain freely. Within about two weeks, young leaf blades will grow along the cut areas, and seedlings will also continuously emerge from the base.
Another alternative is propagation by cuttings. Select branches about 5 to 6.5 cm in diameter and cut them to 5 to 6.5 cm in length. In order to leave a larger area in contact with the soil, cut the base of the branch at a 45-degree angle. Then insert the cut surface into the soil, burying about 20-23 cm of the stem in the soil. Water regularly, and before long new leaves will grow from the stem. The advantage of growing from cuttings is that they grow and flower faster than other plants developed from seeds. Moringa trees grown from cuttings still retain the characteristics of the mother plant.
Flower buds and petals, as a nutrient-rich vegetable, can be eaten after being lightly cooked.
Keep those pruning shears within reach. The more and more frequently you prune them, the faster they grow.
Moringa leaves, pods, flower buds, petals and seeds are all edible. Flower buds and petals should be cooked before eating, seeds can be eaten raw or cooked, and moringa leaves are also edible. Many places online will tell you how to add moringa leaves to your daily food. They can be eaten directly raw; you can pick and eat them right from the tree, or add them to salads and spreads. In many countries around the world, many people add a little moringa leaves as an ingredient when cooking chicken, fish, pork, beef, mutton or other meats, or simply stir-fry them as a side dish. Moringa leaves can also be added to soups, stews, rice, grains and baked goods. When added to the main dish, it is most beneficial to extend the cooking time and preserve the nutrients in the food as much as possible.
Special precautions
Because moringa trees grow so quickly, the simplest way to keep them at a certain height is to prune the new leaves at the top of the tree and cut the branches vertically in half. This will help promote the expansion of moringa branches and leaves along the trunk and prevent it from growing into a 30-foot-tall tree, in which case the flower buds, petals, leaves and pods would all be difficult to pick.
Moringa trees are drought-tolerant but not cold-tolerant; severe cold will cause moringa trees to die.
If you want to pick those fruits, keep its height at around 8 to 12 feet. If you do not prune it, you will end up with a tall, thin, ugly tree, with branches growing at the very top that are hard to reach.
People all over the world eat moringa roots. But never eat the roots. They taste like horseradish, but the root bark contains a powerful neurotoxin. When the toxin accumulates to a certain level, it can be fatal. Stay away from those roots.
Regularly prune the moringa tree from the top. This will help those trees grow more branches and leaves downward along the trunk. You can also cut off half the leaves on the branches to force those new leaves to grow at the forks of the main branches. Do not casually discard the pruned leaves. Throw them under the tree; they can serve as the best mulch and can suppress weed growth.