Overwinter moringa by moving the pot under cover before a freeze, or by cutting the plant back and covering the stump.
Before a freeze, move the pot or cut it back and cover it
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Pot | Roll or carry the pot under cover before a freeze | Do not leave a small pot out on a freeze night |
| In-ground | Cut the plant to about a foot and cover the stump | Do not leave a tall, uncovered top in a hard freeze |
| Annual | Sow again after frost if you cannot save the plant | Do not count on an uncovered freeze-killed top |
moringa is tender. A light frost may burn the leaves. A hard freeze can kill the top, and a small pot left out can die. [1] Move a container under cover before that night. [2] In the ground, cut the plant to about a foot and cover the stump. It may sprout when warmth returns. [3] Where you cannot protect it, grow it as a warm-season annual and sow again after frost — that sowing is on Planting Moringa.
- Watch the forecast. Act before the freeze, not the morning after.
- If it is in a pot, move it under cover — a garage, a bright porch, or a heated room.
- If it is in the ground, cut it to about a foot and cover the stump with a bucket, cloth, or plastic so the freeze does not sit on the wood.
Can I leave moringa in the ground all winter?
Only where frost does not kill the top. Anywhere a freeze is likely, move the pot or cut and cover the stump.
If frost kills the top, it may sprout from the stump
A freeze-killed top is not always a dead plant. The stump can send new shoots when the weather warms. [4] Wait for that flush before you dig it out. A small pot that froze solid is less likely to come back than a stump in the ground. That year's leaf crop still needs a long stretch of warm weather after the sprout.
Will moringa come back after frost?
A stump in the ground often sprouts in spring. A small pot that froze through may not. Either way, you still need a long warm season after that.
Move the pot or cut and cover the stump before the freeze, and do not count on an uncovered top.
FAQ
Should I grow moringa as an annual?
Yes, where you cannot move a pot or cover a stump. Sow after frost and pick leaves the same season.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] UCCE Central Sierra Agriculture -
https://ucanr.edu/site/ucce-central-sierra-agriculture/article/moringa-oleifera-miracle-tree - [2] UC ANR Under the Solano Sun -
https://ucanr.edu/blog/under-solano-sun/article/moringa-must-have-backyard-plant - [3] UC ANR Master Gardener Helpline -
https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2020-07/329403.pdf - [4] Gardening Know How -
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/moringa/about-moringa-trees.htm
This note is part of Moringa Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors