Retired Senior Chief asks “can you lend any advice on sprouting moringa seeds? I have about a 3% germination rate right now and very frustrated.”
My answer:
Yes!
Sprouting moringa seeds is really easy – you just need to know a few things first.
Fresh seeds are needed
Moringa seeds lose viability rapidly in storage.
Make sure you get fresh ones.
Also, it’s probably a good idea to wait until the pods brown on the tree before picking them. A pod picked green may not have finished maturing the seeds – let nature work, then harvest when mature.
Sprouting Moringa Seeds Like Warm Temperatures
Moringa seeds like it warm to hot. Sprouting moringa seeds in a cool winter or spring is a losing proposition. I found this out when I ran my plant nursery. I wanted to get a bunch of seedlings started early so I’d be ready for the early summer plant shows, so in February put a bunch of pots out in the nursery and planted them all with good moringa seed.
Nothing happened for a couple of months. Then, a few seedlings emerged. Most of the seed failed.
This made me get smart.
The next time I planted moringa, I started them in pots on top of a heat mat (like this one).
Even in February, they came up fine and grew well. 80 degree weather is good for germination… 60s and low 70s, not so much.
Watch the Water
Too much water can kill young moringa seeds and trees. Don’t soak them. Plant your seeds, water them well, then water them again when the soil almost dries out.
Sprouting seeds and young seedlings have a high tendency to rot. Overwatering seedlings will often kill them. The trees can take a lot of water once they get taller, but when the wood is still green – watch out.
Moringa seeds take a week or two to sprout. I believe sprouting moringa seeds right in a good-sized pot or in the ground will give you stronger trees than starting them in little trays, as the roots are quite vigorous and like to move downwards.
You’ll find more on moringa in my book Totally Crazy Easy Florida Gardening: The Secret to Growing Piles of Food in the Sunshine State.
Good luck and happy gardening!
You can have greener thumbs by this weekend!
17 comments
Is it easier to grow from seed or cuttings?
Cuttings seem to make weaker trees. I like seed better. Easier? I dunno… both ways are easy. Sometimes cuttings rot, though… but on the other hand, sometimes seeds don’t germinate.
Good to know, my brother has seeds, I just don’t know how old they are. Thanks Dave you are a Goodman.
Hi David, how long do you think Moringa seeds would stay viable in storage? Thanks!
Without refrigeration, I’d bet 3 – 6 months. With refrigeration, probably a year. Those are rough guesses, though.
I have had some moringa seeds last a couple years, even without refrigeration. Just sprouted some last month.
Interesting. Were they still in the pods, perchance?
We have a few trees and recently found a couple of seed pods opened up lying on the ground with sprouted seeds coming out of it. Because of the amount of rain we’ve had in the past month, the pod must have stayed wet for a very long time. I took out the seeds and planted in 4″ pots. They are doing quite well so far. What is also peculiar is the seed pod size on the trees. They are huge!
That’s awesome. Would love to see pictures.
Well I will Email you the pics.
I hear a lot about moringa. What is so great about it? Just wondering.
It’s nutritionally dense, and a voracious grower. You can eat just about any part, except for the roots.
Moringa is very famous in southern end of India. Very tasty and nutritious. Believed as Aphrodisiac. :)
Hello,
Would like to know if i can grow moringa as microgreens like broccoli, kale, etc.to get the most benefit. We ouve in wisconsin n also a place where we cannot plant any thing. Please help
Thanks
Probably – the seeds and the young plants are edible. I’ve heard that people grow them as a vegetable in garden beds, cutting them when short. Give it a try.
Hi Good David. You gave me hope. I planted it in pods, in mostly coffee grains and soil, and it still has not come out. I planted it the end of August in Cape Town, towards end of winter and beginning of spring. Getting quite hot now. I do believe they will spout after reading your account, that they came up after a few months. I wanted to disturb the soil a bit to let seed breath, but I do not know whether it is a good idea. I have only planted sweet peas years ago and it was planted to close to each other like a bush. But at least it came up. So exciting!
Hi, Ms Lee. I am also from RSA. Did your seeds sprout? How was your growing season. I also want to grow Moringa.
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