Moringa trees in the USA (forum)

Stephen Adler starts with ...
Has anyone successfully grown Moringo trees in Virginia's USA 6-7 Zone?

Time: 16th February 2011 4:44am

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About the Author Stephen Adler
Luray VA USA
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JK says...
Hi Stephen,
Moringa like warm weather,
Temperature below 3 degrees C and frost will kill the plant
You could however grow Moringa in a pot, move it indoors during winter till about the plant is about 2 years and has developed a good tuber root, then can be planted out, then even if the leaves are killed during winter, it would shoot new leaves as the weather gets warmer



Time: 16th February 2011 9:46am

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About the Author JK
Perth
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snottiegobble says...
JK Moringas sound interesting, are they or their seeds readily available in WA?

Time: 16th February 2011 11:03am

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About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busselton ( smack in the middle)
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Jim says...
Hi Snottie

Moringa oleifera aka drumstick tree seeds are readily available on the internet, ebay is one place. I know there is some established trees in the Fremantle area, my experience with growing them has been consistent with JK's explanation, the seedlings grow well during summer then die off during winter to then re-sprout from the tuber again.



Time: 16th February 2011 1:07pm

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About the Author electra
Freo
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JK says...
@snottiegobble
Hi, Yes the seeds are available on ebay,
if you want a small tree, I got mine for some $20 from a person in Belmont, who had got the plants from Port Hedland,
Also Joe @Tass1 trees had a few, when I saw them about 6 months back, they were priced at around $35

@Jim,
Hi Jim,
Is it growing wild in Fremantle? Could you let me know the location, i'll go and check how well they are coping with the WA weather
Thanks

Time: 17th February 2011 11:46am

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About the Author JK
Perth
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Jim says...
Hi JK

The one that I saw in Fremantle was actually on Gardening Australia and it was a big and established tree, it was in a keen gardener's bag yard but I cant recall the exact location sorry. As mentioned my seedling are coming back much stronger for the second season after dieing back to the root over winter. I'm hoping that they will only get stronger.

Also now that I think about it I do remember Joe at Tass One saying he was growing one to supply his own seed/propagation material. I don't know how old it was though or it is possible the Joe was pulling my leg as usual.

Time: 17th February 2011 12:16pm

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About the Author electra
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Stephen Adler says...
JK Thanks - very helpful. Could you just keep the tree in a container and prune the tree to a size of a door and keep it inside during the 2-3 cold months?
Or in a green house.

Can it handle shade. Sun through trees?

Thanks again Stephen Adler

Time: 17th February 2011 1:39pm

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About the Author Stephen Adler
Luray VA USA
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snottiegobble says...
Thanks for your help guys. Its pretty obvious we wont have trouble with tall moringas down south!

Time: 17th February 2011 4:16pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
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carl says...
hi guys

do you have the details of the person in belmont selling the moringas ?

JK-i was also looking to grow a pomegranate tree-what variety have you found that grows well here ?

carl, perth

Time: 28th February 2011 2:07pm

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About the Author larry-perth
perth
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JK says...
Hi Carl,
I found Moringa Trees for $20 at a Asian shop in a shopping complex on Bishop St, Morley, next to Centro Galeria, the Asian shop in opp to IGA

Pommegrante, you should be able to get it from Bunnings, or try the City Farm Nursery, Perth

Regards

Time: 1st March 2011 2:27am

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About the Author JK
Perth
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JK says...
@Stephen
My Apologies, I hadn't looked at it earlier. Yes, you could grow it in a pot. Greenhouse, as moringa needs likes a lot of sun, but move it indoors on cold nights
Yes, they can be pruned, the will grow with more rigor

Regards

Time: 1st March 2011 10:32am

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Perth
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Telewoda says...
I'm looking for some seed in Northern Virgin to grow. Any help out there.

Time: 5th May 2011 6:58am

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About the Author Telewoda
Virginia
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GK says...
Hi All,

I was brought up on Moringa as a child in Hedland and now have some down here in Perth. Its true they don't like the winter in Perth but they come back with a vengence come spring/summer. I have only good things to say about it as a food especially with our drying climate.

Keep an eye on Gumtree come Dec/Jan

Time: 19th May 2011 9:21pm

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About the Author GK
Belmont
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Tony says...
I am looking for Drumstick Tree cuttings / seeds in Perth. Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Tony 0428 920 881

Time: 20th May 2011 10:43pm

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About the Author Tony25
Armadale WA
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copingwithclay says...
Being a newcomer to Moringas and expecting the trunks to freeze, I formed a circular fine-mesh wire fence around the trunks and filled them with dry leaves prior to winter. I hoped that the 2 foot tall X 2 foot diameter insulation 'basket' might prevent the 2 foot tall whacked-off trunks from freezing and that Springtime new growth would emerge along that trunk. There were several winter freezes with temps reaching the low 20's F. I removed the wire after the last frost and just used the leaves for mulch around the Moringa. Because the densely packed leaves were still dry, the trunks did not rot. Regretfully, the upper trunks did die back, but regrowth did work out along the lower few inches of the trunks. One trunk attempted to grow a side shoot into the leaves but stopped after it got a few inches long. The new growth is amazing.

Time: 22nd May 2011 10:55pm

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About the Author growandtell
Texas
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JK says...
@Tony,
try Joe@Tass1 trees.
I also seen it an Asian Shop in Malaga Shopping Centre.
I got mine from a house in Belmont, not sure if he still has any left.
My Anglo-Burmese Neighbour in Kelmscott has a healthy tree.. (Mine is still small.. the cold killed it last year..it has since got some new shoots)
I wouldn't be suprised if its growing in some backyards in Kelmscott & Armadale. You just need a strong cutting, they strike easily from cuttings, but not in winter..


Time: 23rd May 2011 6:08pm

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About the Author JK
Perth
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GK says...
Hi All,

If you would like some moringa in Perth contact me in January @ kinggeoffrey@westnet.com.au

Thanks all

Time: 24th May 2011 12:20am

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About the Author GK
Belmont
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GK says...
Hi All,

Personally, I have a few small trees planted around my yard. I planted one that was basically a stick (with tuber at the bottom) at 2 foot tall last spring and it has taken off and is now over 10 foot. I pinched off the shoots as you read and there is now many branches. The others have also gone nuts but didn't have the same growing time. The leaves and flowers are still hanging in there even though we are into our first month of winter. Growth seems to have slowed but the leaves still retain their colour. I have harvested many many leaves from this plant for cooking and dried tea.

I am wondering if it is possible that they can acllimatise somewhat. Time will tell - 2/3 months to go. Apart from the coconut (which I'm sure I have no chance in growing in Perth) moringa is a favourite food of mine.

I do find the native birds love to eat the flowers and bees like their share as well. Good sign I think.

I am looking at planting more, as although I originally used the leaves, I want to use the drumstick in cooking as well.

Thanks again.

Time: 24th May 2011 1:03am

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About the Author GK
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Julie says...
I found some of the info on this site fascinating, eg, growing trees 50cm apart in 1m rows for leaf production. I would love to grow some, but as I'm in the hills it may be a bit too cold in winter.

http://www.avrdc.org/LC/indigenous/moringa.pdf

Time: 6th December 2011 8:53pm

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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Tony says...
If it will grow in Texas' 20

Time: 7th December 2011 10:26pm

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About the Author Tony25
Armadale WA
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Tony says...
If anyone wants these trees join up to Freecycle and ask for cuttings or seeds from the members there. Just follow the rules you are provided when you join, so that it is a good experience for all concerned.
It is a great resource to get rid of what you don't want, but isn't worth selling, or sharing what you like with others. eg Drumstick tree, Pomegranate trees, etc.

Time: 7th December 2011 10:43pm

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About the Author Tony25
Armadale WA
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Julie says...
Thanks Tony, I'll follow that up.

Time: 9th December 2011 2:01am

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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Julie says...
I sowed Moringa seed last spring, and my four healthy trees are now about 1.5 m tall. I'm wondering whether I should prune them now to branch out, or wait until spring?

They haven't lost their leaves, as they are in pots against a north wall, under an awning, so sheltered from the cold nights.

They also have flower buds, and I'm sure it's the wrong time of year. But then a lot of things are out of whack this year. Should I pull them off?

Time: 9th June 2014 1:56am

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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Tony25 says...
Julie,
I also have 4 Mmoringa saplings grown from seed. I actually got 3 sticks from one of mine.
I have planted one out in the open and it still has leaves and flowers on it. I plan to leave it and monitor it's progress. The other 3 are in pots in our garden.

Keep us informed of your progress.

Tony

Time: 24th June 2014 10:12pm

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About the Author Tony25
Armadale WA
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Julie says...
Tony, I have done nothing because I didn't really know if I should do anything! The lower leaves have turned yellow, that's it.

I think Armadale doesn't get as cold at night as Roleystone. so my Armadale friends tell me - they complain how cold it is in the mornings here.

I heard they don't like to be cold and wet at the same time, so under an awning they didn't get the recent heavy rain.

Have you pruned yours? Are they growing tall and spindly?

Time: 25th June 2014 12:37pm

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Original Post was last edited: 25th June 2014 12:42pm

About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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