There is a farming technique shared to me by my distant relative and friend, Fil-Am Rocky French, in improving the germination rate of Moringa or “Malunggay” seeds.
Rocky, who lives in Thermal City, Southern California and operates a Tilapia fishpond in the middle of the Coachela Desert, is the iconic innovative and practical farmer.
One of his innovations is using Malunggay leaves in his fish pellet feeds formulation.
This he said gives him healthier Tilapia and takes out the “langsa” or the fishy stench.
Several years ago, he gave me a bagful of Malunggay seeds which I planted in my farm.
This Malunggay variety produced long and large fruits making it an ideal source of Moringa Oil.
Much to my dismay, the germination rate of the seeds was very low.
When I told him about my seed germination problem, he shared these techniques to me:
1. Break and peel off the hard shell cover of the Malunggay seeds. That will leave you with the white core of the seeds;
2. Mix hydrogen peroxide or Agua Oxigenada with water at 1 part hydrogen peroxide (H202) and 2 parts water (H20) in a glass or container depending on the volume of seeds to be germinated;
3. Soak the husked Malunggay seeds in the glass with the 1 part H202 and 2 parts H20 for 15 to 20 minutes;
4. As soon as air bubbles start appearing in the water, take out the seeds to dry;
5. Place the seeds in the seeds bags, preferably our recommended banana leaf seed bags to avoid stress in transplanting;
6. Plant your Malunggay seedlings in the field as soon as these are 6 inches tall along with the banana leaf seedling bag so as not to disturb and stress the fragile root system;
7. Spread a small amount of anti-ant powder like Sevin powder in the soil in your seedbag to protect your young seedlings from ants and ground termites;
8. Place a seedling guard around your young Malunggay to protect it from dogs, chicken or small ruminants.
Using the H202 x H20 formula, I have about 95 to 98 percent germination.
You could use this formula for other seeds with hard shell covers to improve the germination rate.
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