Moringa oleifera - Plant

Moringa oleifera Plant

Other names: Ben

Native to northern India, various parts of this plant are used: its fruits, cooked like beans, as well as the roots and leaves, which can be eaten raw or cooked and have a pleasant taste similar to green asparagus or watercress. It is well known for Moringa oil, extracted from its seeds, which is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and has many uses.

This is a fast-growing tree with drooping branches and tripinnate leaves. It produces fragrant white or cream-colored flowers from the first year of planting. Its fruit is a three-sided pod containing round, dark seeds with whitish wings. It grows in nearly any type of soil, preferring sandy soils with good drainage.

Photo by Irfan kottaparamban (License CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to Grow Moringa oleifera Plants

It can grow up to 3–4 meters tall in the first year if conditions are favorable. Its young branches are fragile, so it is advisable to protect it from strong winds during the first year.

The ideal daytime temperature is between 20 and 35°C, although it can tolerate daytime temperatures as low as 7°C and above 40°C. It withstands light and brief frosts.

For commercial cultivation, trees should be spaced 2.5 to 3 meters apart.

It reproduces through seeds and cuttings.