When to Plant Moringa in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Moringa guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Feb
- Days to harvest
- about 104 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.3
Moringa (horseradish tree, drumstick tree) is a fast, drought tolerant tree of the tropics and subtropics, reaching 5 to 10 m but pruned under 2 m for picking (Daleys, Green Harvest).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan P
- Feb P
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Plant in spring and summer, September to February, once the soil is 25C (Green Harvest). Woody cuttings 2.5 to 4 cm thick and 20 to 30 cm long with 3 buds root readily; space 80 to 140 cm apart in well drained soil (Green Harvest). Daleys lists pods from February to June.
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How to Grow Moringa in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Well drained, even dry sandy soil (Green Harvest, Daleys).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 5.5-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Daleys).
- Good companions
- Sweet Potato, Ginger, Turmeric
Tropical Growing Tips for Moringa
Recommended Varieties
- Moringa oleifera seedling (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Weed spread by seed
Pro Tips
- Pick pods green; do not let seed scatter
Harvesting Moringa
When ready: Young leaves any time the tree is in growth; pods while still slender and immature (Green Harvest).
How to harvest: Pick leaf shoots by hand; cut immature pods (Green Harvest).
Storing and preserving moringa
How to keep it
- Dried leaf. Dry leaves out of direct sun until crisp, crumble and store airtight; traditional method, no source opened. Keeps: 6-12 months.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Moringa
When do you plant moringa in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Dec
When should I plant Moringa in Cairns?
Plant in spring and summer, September to February, once the soil is 25C (Green Harvest). Woody cuttings 2.5 to 4 cm thick and 20 to 30 cm long with 3 buds root readily; space 80 to 140 cm apart in well drained soil (Green Harvest). Daleys lists pods from February to June.
How do I know when Moringa are ready to harvest?
Young leaves any time the tree is in growth; pods while still slender and immature (Green Harvest).
What are the best Moringa varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Moringa oleifera seedling (Daleys).
What grows well with Moringa?
Good companion plants for Moringa include: Sweet Potato, Ginger, Turmeric.
Are moringa salt tolerant?
Only a little. Moringa are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.