Monday, August 29, 2022

Moringa Harvest

Moringa Pods on the Tree

There were several pods ready for harvesting on the moringa tree and I picked them, this weekend:



Moringa Harvest

Not a bad harvest at all!  There are a few more pods on the tree, that haven't matured enough to be picked.  I think you can see why these pods are also known as "drumsticks" in English.  

You have to lightly peel or scrape off most of the green outer peel before cutting the pods into shorter lengths for cooking.  I peeled about half of the pods, on Sunday, and cooked them.  I wanted to peel and cook all of them at once, but, my hand began to cramp up after I had peeled about half and then, I had to stop.  I will peel and cook the rest, tomorrow, and then, I am going to freeze some of it.  

I posted about making moringa curry here

It was a quiet and peaceful weekend.  

I am grateful for:

- Being able to grow and harvest moringa pods
- A quiet weekend
- Sleeping in
- No noisy parties in the neighborhood
- Chats with family and friends

Joyful activities have included harvesting moringa pods and sewing.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.

22 comments:

  1. I've not heard of moringa plants and I'm glad you have had a good harvest and you will enjoy your curries.
    I'm glad you've had a peaceful weekend. We don't go out over the Bank Holiday weekend as it's too busy here but will go down to the Garden Centre today just to look at garden furniture,

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    1. Moringa is a vegetable from my childhood; growing up, it was perhaps my favorite vegetable!
      Looking at garden furniture sounds like a fun thing to do! I hope you find a nice swing seat to purchase once your new patio is in place. :)

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  2. Congrats on what looks like a bumper harvest! They look rather alien while on the tree - your photo reminds me of an April fool's trick played by the BBC many years ago, where a serious current affairs programme included a report of the spaghetti farms in Italy. It even showed people people picking spaghetti! Still makes me smile :o)

    I looked back at your old post and it seems that this is not a common vegetable. Did you have to hunt high and low to find a plant, or were you just lucky to have one in your garden?

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    1. Thank you! This is the most I've ever harvested from my moringa tree, which was purchased in May 2020. I had been wanting to get a plant for years - my aunt said she can send me some seeds, but, she wasn't able to do so. I had mentioned it to M and he found some for me at a nursery he had visited. Two tiny plants were purchased, one didn't survive the first winter, the second looked more dead than alive, but, it survived and produced a few pods, last year. I let one pod remain on the tree to harvest the seeds, but, they didn't germinate. I've tried to root a branch, too, without much success. The plant is considered to be very drought tolerant; I will try to root another cutting later this year.

      I have seen replays of that BBC spaghetti farm episode and I love it!

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  3. Another bountiful harvest of your own crops. That's good that you had some quiet time in the neighbourhood. Our new neighbours moved in on the weekend with lots of help from their grown children & grandchildren. They looked very busy so will take the opportunity either today or tomorrow to go over & welcome them to the neighbourhood.

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    1. Yes! I'm very pleased with this year's moringa harvest! I'm sure your new neighbors will be very happy to be welcomed to the neighborhood by you. :)

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  4. I went back and read your moringa recipe. You said that the pulp is the edible part. Even after you peel them, do you scrape out the middle while you are eating them?

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    1. Yes, you only peel the very outermost layer of the peel, because the inner pulp will just dissolve into the gravy/sauce if you remove the entire peel. There is still a part of the peel left on the pieces of pod so that they will retain their shape while cooking. Then, you cut open the pod and scrape out the pulp to eat it. My daughter says it is too fussy to eat! LOL.

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  5. What an amazing harvest, they are so long! I had a quiet weekend too, sleeping in after an early breakfast in housecoat, and sitting on the deck reading a Dick Francis novel. His heroes always get beaten up by thugs but win in the end and the horsey parts are very interesting.

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    1. It was a very decent harvest, considering the fact that the tree was purchased as a tiny seedling, just two years ago (May 2020). This year's pods are about 30 inches long, which is a very good length for them. I'm very pleased with this year's harvest!
      I'm glad you had a quiet weekend, Bushlady, and I hope that you are feeling much better, today. Continue to rest and take it easy.

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  6. Nice harvest! My mooring did not survive last summer and never did produce pods. Maybe I can find another plant some day and try again.

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    1. Thank you, Anne. I'm sorry your plant didn't survive, but, one of my plants (I had bought 2) didn't survive the first winter. A number of people seem to be growing the plant for the leaves which are also edible; hope you can find another plant and try again. :)

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  7. Do the moringa pods have a similar taste to any other green veg? I'd never heard of them before I first saw them on your blog, I don't think they are available in this country.

    I'm glad to hear you had a party free weekend. That must be a relief!

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    1. Moringa is supposed to taste a little like asparagus. I must admit I prefer moringa to asparagus! You might be able to find some canned or frozen moringa pods in Indian grocery stores; I've tried both, but, I didn't like how they tasted; the fresh pods taste much better, I think!
      The neighbors had a gathering over the weekend, but, no loud music so it was nice. :)

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  8. What an interesting vegetable. I guess it's a vegetable. lol
    I first read about these on another blog a few years ago and that was my first introduction to Moringa.
    I imagine the curry is very good with them.
    I like the picture with your pavers leading you into your garden :)

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    1. Hm, I guess the pods might be considered a fruit, technically (they result from a flower and contain seeds), but, they are usually treated as a vegetable. :)
      The leaves are considered to be very nutritious, as well as the pods, but, I've always preferred the pods to the leaves.
      Thank you; I've taken another photo of the pavers for a photo challenge, too. :)

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  9. Nice harvest, Bless.
    Next time when I have moringa, I'm going to try your recipe. :)

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    1. Thank you, Nil. I cooked the moringa without tomato, this time, because I didn't have any! How do you usually cook it?

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  10. Glad you had a lovely weekend. What a great harvest that is!

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. I cooked the moringa curry and froze some of it. :)

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  11. I had never heard of moringa away from your blog. I love learning all these things. It looks like you have a great harvest.

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    1. I am very pleased with this year's moringa harvest! This is only the 2nd year it has produced a harvest (the plant was bought in May 2020). Moringa is supposed to be a sort of superfood! All parts of the tree are edible and it has lots of beneficial qualities including the ability to purify water (the ground up seeds).

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