I see moringa leaf powder selling as a superfood. How do I grow moringa specifically for leaves rather than drumstick pods?
2 Answers
Growing moringa for leaf is different from growing it for pods. For leaf and powder you plant at much higher density and keep the plants short by regular pruning so you get many tender shoots and leaves to harvest several times a year, almost like a leafy crop, instead of letting trees grow tall for pods. It is a warm climate crop that suits the dry and semi arid plains and does not like frost or waterlogging. It is grown widely in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and other warm states. The leaf is harvested, then shade dried and powdered for the health market. This is a value addition crop, so the money is in clean drying and good quality powder, not just in green leaf. Get the high density leaf spacing and variety advice from your KVK or horticulture department.
For leaf you prune hard and harvest the soft growth again and again. Totally different from a pod orchard. Drying clean without dust is the real skill.