Just like all other plants, moringa requires certain conditions in order to grow. Plants need sunlight, water and gas called carbon dioxide to make their own food. This process is called photosynthesis. Additionally, plants need certain minerals, such as nitrates, phosphates and potassium, which are taken from the soil.
The moringa plant is from India, which is a country in South Asia. In India, there are wet and dry seasons and it is hot and sunny. Climate conditions in The Gambia are similar to India, so the plant will grow well in your garden.
Moringa is very good for you. Research in Niger during the 1980s revealed many of moringa’s health benefits, and today the plant is considered a super food. This is because of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that the leaves contain. Eating moringa can help you have a healthy lifestyle.
Next time you are at home, add some dried moringa leaves or powder to your rice. It will give you many vitamins, which your body needs. Also, add moringa powder to the food of other family members, and see what they think, We are sure they will love it, and it will help keep them healthy!
To grow Moringa, seeds are required, which can be collected from adult plants in June. Soak the seeds overnight to start the growing process. It is important to grow moringa in the dry season because when the plant starts to grow it does not like too much water. The next morning, put the seeds in a pot or other container, such as a used water bag, with good topsoil. Every day, lightly water and after about five to seven days, the plant should start to grow. When moringa is about 25 cm high, it is ready to plant in the soil in a sunny position. After a year moringa can reach 2 m high. Roughly three or four months after planting, leaves are ready for harvesting and, most importantly, eating! It is also possible to grow many Moringa plants in an intensive bed, which can increase the number of leaves that can be eaten. To do this, follow the same procedure from above, but sow the seeds directly into the soil. Each seed can be placed in a bed around 20 x 20 cm apart from each other.
Written by Africa StartUp