Moringa (Sahjan): Where the Drumstick Tree Grows in India and How to Plant It
Moringa oleifera
Sahjan (moringa) is a native, fast-growing food tree whose leaves, flowers and pods are traditional vegetables across India. Learn where it grows well, when to plant it in each region, how to protect young plants from frost and waterlogging, and why it is a food tree rather than a big shade tree.
Varieties
Known varieties and forms of this tree in India, how they differ and where they grow.
Released variety (3)
PKM 1Pod length: 75 cmTree shape: Annual "seed moringa"; 3-4 ratoon crops
A pureline selection from the Eppodumvendran local type, grown from seed as an annual pod crop and cut back for ratoons. The TNAU lecture notes give 65-70 cm pods and 200-225 pods a year; the figures above are from the TNAU release page.
- Tree shape
- Annual "seed moringa"; 3-4 ratoon crops
- Height
- 4-6 m
- Pod length
- 75 cm
- Other
- Pod weight 150 g
- Ripening time
- Harvest in 7-8 months
- Yield
- 200-250 pods/tree; 53 t/ha
Sources: Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam, TNAU e-course (eagri.org), TNAU Agritech Portal
PKM 2Pod length: 126 cm, 70% fleshTree shape: Annual "seed moringa"
Derived from a cross between MP 31 and MP 38; its extra-long, pulpy pods are described as suitable for homesteads.
- Tree shape
- Annual "seed moringa"
- Pod length
- 126 cm, 70% flesh
- Other
- Pod weight 280 g
- Yield
- 98 t/ha
Sources: Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam, TNAU e-course (eagri.org), TNAU Agritech Portal
AnupamaTree shape: High-yielding annual drumstick
Listed by Kerala Agricultural University among its released varieties as a high-yielding annual drumstick variety.
- Tree shape
- High-yielding annual drumstick
Source: Kerala Agricultural University
Clone (3)
MO 70Tree shape: Perennial drumstick clone
One of three promising perennial drumstick clones (MO 70, MO 95, MO 44) from crop improvement work at KAU Vellanikkara. Perennial types are propagated by limb cuttings.
- Tree shape
- Perennial drumstick clone
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
MO 95Tree shape: Perennial drumstick clone
One of three promising perennial drumstick clones (MO 70, MO 95, MO 44) from crop improvement work at KAU Vellanikkara. Perennial types are propagated by limb cuttings.
- Tree shape
- Perennial drumstick clone
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
MO 44Tree shape: Perennial drumstick clone
One of three promising perennial drumstick clones (MO 70, MO 95, MO 44) from crop improvement work at KAU Vellanikkara. Perennial types are propagated by limb cuttings.
- Tree shape
- Perennial drumstick clone
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
Local type (6)
Jaffna moringaFruit: Soft flesh, good tastePod length: 60-90 cmTree shape: Perennial
A local cultivar named after its place of cultivation; Yazhpanam muringa is the same type.
- Tree shape
- Perennial
- Pod length
- 60-90 cm
- Fruit
- Soft flesh, good taste
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
Chavakacheri muringaPod length: 90-120 cmTree shape: Perennial
- Tree shape
- Perennial
- Pod length
- 90-120 cm
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
ChemmuringaFruit: Red-tipped podsTree shape: Perennial; flowers throughout the year
- Tree shape
- Perennial; flowers throughout the year
- Fruit
- Red-tipped pods
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
Pal muringaiFruit: Thicker pulp and better taste
- Fruit
- Thicker pulp and better taste
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
Puna muringaFruit: Thinner pods
- Fruit
- Thinner pods
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
Kodikal muringaPod length: 15-20 cm
- Pod length
- 15-20 cm
- Best for
- Support for betel vines
- Other
- Propagated by seed
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
Other (3)
KM-1 (Kudumianmalai 1)Tree shape: Bushy; grown from seed; ratooned 2-3 years
Named in the TNAU lecture notes as one of the few named drumstick varieties.
- Tree shape
- Bushy; grown from seed; ratooned 2-3 years
- Starts bearing
- About 6 months after planting
- Yield
- 400-500 pods/year
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
DhanrajTree shape: Annual drumstick, grown from seed
Named in the TNAU lecture notes as an annual seed-propagated drumstick.
- Tree shape
- Annual drumstick, grown from seed
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
AD 4Tree shape: Annual seed drumstick
The annual seed drumstick that came out of the same KAU Vellanikkara crop improvement work as the MO clones.
- Tree shape
- Annual seed drumstick
Source: TNAU e-course (eagri.org)
Compare all varieties
| Variety | Tree shape | Height | Fruit | Pod length | Yield | Ripening time | Starts bearing | Best for | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PKM 1 | Annual "seed moringa"; 3-4 ratoon crops | 4-6 m | — | 75 cm | 200-250 pods/tree; 53 t/ha | Harvest in 7-8 months | — | — | Pod weight 150 g |
| PKM 2 | Annual "seed moringa" | — | — | 126 cm, 70% flesh | 98 t/ha | — | — | — | Pod weight 280 g |
| Anupama | High-yielding annual drumstick | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| KM-1 (Kudumianmalai 1) | Bushy; grown from seed; ratooned 2-3 years | — | — | — | 400-500 pods/year | — | About 6 months after planting | — | — |
| Dhanraj | Annual drumstick, grown from seed | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MO 70 | Perennial drumstick clone | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MO 95 | Perennial drumstick clone | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MO 44 | Perennial drumstick clone | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AD 4 | Annual seed drumstick | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jaffna moringa | Perennial | — | Soft flesh, good taste | 60-90 cm | — | — | — | — | — |
| Chavakacheri muringa | Perennial | — | — | 90-120 cm | — | — | — | — | — |
| Chemmuringa | Perennial; flowers throughout the year | — | Red-tipped pods | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pal muringai | — | — | Thicker pulp and better taste | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Puna muringa | — | — | Thinner pods | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kodikal muringa | — | — | — | 15-20 cm | — | — | — | Support for betel vines | Propagated by seed |
Sources: Varieties Released (Annual Moringa PKM 1, PKM 2) – Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam; HORT 281 Lecture 32: Drumstick, coccinea and curry leaf (varieties / cultivars) – TNAU e-course (eagri.org); Horticulture: Vegetables: Annual Moringa (varieties PKM 1, PKM 2) – TNAU Agritech Portal; Varieties Released (Drumstick: Anupama, 2010) – Kerala Agricultural University
This article was prepared with AI assistance. Please check important details against the sources shown in each section.
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