moringa-oleifera - Survival Gardener | A Garden For the End of the World

MORINGA OLEIFERA

WHAT IS IT?

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Moringa oleifera

Moringa is a highly valued plant, distributed in many countries of the tropics and subtropics. It has an impressive range of medicinal uses with high nutritional value. It’s native to the sub-Himalayan tracts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Moringa is called the “supermarket on a tree” and yields at least three different edibles: pods, leaves, and seeds. The roots are used in various medicinal and ayurvedic traditions. The different parts of this plant contain a profile of important minerals, and are a good source of protein, vitamins, beta carotene, phytochemicals and the full chain of essential amino acids. Beyond edibles, it provides useful products such as lubricating oil, lamp oil, wood, paper, liquid fuel, skin treatments, and a means to help purify water to name a few.

It’s also known as the horseradish tree, drumstick tree, benzolive tree, kelor, marango, mlonge, moonga, mulangay, nébéday, saijhan, sajna or Ben oil tree and has become naturalized in many parts of the tropics including Central/South America.

It can also be dried and powdered for long-term storage or used for tea. This is something we do at the house to when we can’t make use of all of our fresh moringa.

If you’re interested in becoming less dependent on the supermarket, I highly suggest adding this to your garden. From a survival/prepper perspective this plant is a significant source of vitamins and protein. In the same breath, it’s perennial, drought-resistant, and can flourish in horrible soil. It follows our mantra well, “low input, high output”. Minimal work will bring pounds upon pounds of the harvest throughout the year.

We have over 50 moringa oleifera trees growing on the property now. It’s a rapidly growing tree and I strongly suggest keeping it cut short to a level where leaf collection is possible. It’s common for these to grow 10-15 feet per year. Even if it gets too tall, you can always cut this tough tree short again and it will come back.

Below is a video documentary on Moringa Oleifera👇

Nutritional Value Of Moringa Oleifera

The leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant, being a significant source of B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin A as beta-carotene, vitamin K, manganese, and protein, among other essential nutrients. When compared with common foods particularly high in certain nutrients per 100 g fresh weight, cooked moringa leaves are considerable sources of these same nutrients. Some of the calcium in moringa leaves is bound as crystals of calcium oxalate though at levels 1/25th to 1/45th of that found in spinach, which is a negligible amount. In addition, Moringa contains the full chain of amino acids(the individual building blocks of protein). This a rare for vegetable sources.

Below is a nutritional breakdown from the USDA.

Moringa oleifera leaf, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 64 kcal (270 kJ)
Carbohydrates 8.28 g
Dietary fiber 2.0 g
Fat 1.40 g
Protein 9.40 g

Vitamins
Vitamin A (47%) 378 Î ¼g
Thiamine (B1) (22%) 0.257 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (55%) 0.660 mg
Niacin (B3) (15%) 2.220 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (3%) 0.125 mg
Vitamin B6 (92%) 1.200 mg
Folate (B9) (10%) 40 Î ¼g
Vitamin C (62%) 51.7 mg

Minerals
Calcium (19%) 185 mg
Iron (31%) 4.00 mg
Magnesium (41%) 147 mg
Manganese (17%) 0.36 mg
Phosphorus (16%) 112 mg
Potassium (7%) 337 mg
Sodium (1%) 9 mg
Zinc (6%) 0.6 mg

Water Purification Using Moringa Seeds

Research has shown that ground up moringa seeds are effective at converting turbid water to drinkable standards, meanwhile removing bacteria, toxins and heavy metals. This is a WIN for third world countries where firewood for boiling is expensive and clean water is scarce. Moringa serves as a cheap but effective water purification option. Water treatment solutions are out of reach for many households with majority of them averaging between 0.50$ to $5 USD.

How Do Moringa Seeds Purify Water?

Moringa oleifera seeds treat water in 2 ways. They act as a coagulant and an antimicrobial agent. Research shows that crushed Moringa seeds work as a coagulant in water due to positively charged,water-soluble proteins. These heavy hitters are known as “moringa oleifera cationic proteins” (MOCP). They bind with negatively charged particles (silt, clay, bacteria, toxins,etc) allowing the resulting sedimentation to drop to the bottom. This also reduces bacterial load by over 90%. Check out the full post on purifying water with moringa seeds here.

How To Grow Moringa?

Moringa loves sun and heat. Sandy soil is the best, but it tolerates just about any poor soil.(our grow in heavy clay soil) Moringa can handle some cold but may go dormant after frost and return in the spring. Propagation is by seed or cuttings, however growing from cuttings seems to be much easier and quicker than starting from seed. You’ll also avoid the risky juvenile phase of growth when they are easily broken or eaten by pests.

Steps:

Select a healthy branch from the moringa tree. The branch should be at least 10cm long and have a diameter of at least 1cm.
Cut the branch at a 45-degree angle using sharp shears.
Remove the bottom leaves from the cutting.
Dip the cut end of the cutting in rooting hormone (optional).
Plant the cutting in a small pot or tray filled with potting mix.
Water the cutting well and place it in a bright, warm location.
Keep the potting mix moist but not soggy.
Roots should form within 2-3 weeks.
Once the cutting has rooted, you can transplant it to a larger pot or into the ground.

Tips:

Use sharp shears to make a clean cut. This will help to prevent the spread of disease.
Remove the bottom leaves from the cutting to reduce water loss.
Dip the cut end of the cutting in rooting hormone to promote root growth.
Keep the potting mix moist but not soggy. Overwatering can lead to root rot.
Place the cutting in a bright, warm location. Moringa trees need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
Be patient! It may take several weeks for the cutting to root.

Once your moringa cuttings have rooted, you can transplant them to a larger pot or into the ground. Moringa trees are fast-growing, so they will need a lot of space to grow. Plant your moringa tree in a well-drained location with full sun.

While it is drought resistant, when the saplings are small it may not produce much growth in extremely dry conditions. Some watering is recommended. When they’re larger, they’ll do fine regardless of neglect.

If you’d like a head start you can or 10 moringa plants live here. You’ll be on your way to producing massive yields in within a year.