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Moringa (Drumstick)All seasonsLong-lived tree varietyUpdated 30 August 2026

CO 1

The traditional, wider-spaced tree system rather than the annual PKM-style crop — for growers who want years of bearing from a single planting.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity periodBears for roughly 8–10 years once established; two pod flushes a year
Expected yieldLong pods, around 45–60 cm, picked across two flushes a year over a multi-year tree life
Suitable soilWell-drained sandy loam to loam

Quick facts

Crop
Moringa (Drumstick)
Type
Long-lived tree variety
Season
All seasons
Maturity period
Bears for roughly 8–10 years once established; two pod flushes a year
Seed rate
Lower overall than an annual system since spacing is wider and trees stand for years rather than being replanted
Expected yield
Long pods, around 45–60 cm, picked across two flushes a year over a multi-year tree life
Suitable soil
Well-drained sandy loam to loam
Release
A Coimbatore release grown across Tamil Nadu's traditional moringa tracts

About this variety

CO 1 (Coimbatore 1) is grown as a longer-lived tree rather than an annual crop — wider-spaced and left standing for roughly eight to ten years, with two pod-bearing flushes a year, instead of being replanted annually like PKM 1 or PKM 2. Its pods are notably long, typically 45–60 cm, which suits it to markets that prize longer drumsticks. Because the tree stands for years, initial site selection and drainage matter even more than usual — a waterlogging problem discovered in year three costs far more than one caught before planting.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeLong-lived tree variety
    MaturityBears for roughly 8–10 years once established; two pod flushes a year
    Yield potentialLong pods, around 45–60 cm, picked across two flushes a year over a multi-year tree life
    Disease resistanceNo major disease resistance specifically documented
    SoilWell-drained sandy loam to loam
    SeasonAll seasons

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeJune–July (monsoon, rainfed) or February–March (irrigated)
  • Seed rateLower overall than an annual system since spacing is wider and trees stand for years rather than being replanted
  • Spacing2.5 m × 2.5 m or wider, since the tree is kept for years rather than replanted annually
  • Sowing methodDirect seeding at the final site is preferred for a tree that will stand for years
  • IrrigationLight, regular watering through establishment; an established tree needs only occasional watering through dry spells, with steady moisture through each flowering-to-pod-set window
  • FertilizerA modest annual maintenance dose (farmyard manure plus a light split N:P:K) around each of the year's two flowering/pod cycles, rather than the heavier per-cycle feeding a hard-pruned annual system needs
  • HarvestingTwo pod flushes a year once the tree is established and bearing, continuing across an 8–10-year productive life

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Well-drained sandy loam to loam
Irrigation
Critical for a long-lived tree — a drainage fault that would only cost one season's crop in an annual system can kill a multi-year CO 1 tree outright

Climate

Climate
Tolerates heat and drought well over its long life; the accumulated risk over years is waterlogging in an unusually heavy monsoon, not any single dry spell

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

Bears for roughly 8–10 years once established; two pod flushes a year

Expected yield

Long pods, around 45–60 cm, picked across two flushes a year over a multi-year tree life

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Major pests

Management notes

  • Get site drainage right before planting — this is a decision you effectively make once for a decade with a long-lived tree like CO 1.
  • Light annual pruning to remove dead or crowded wood keeps a multi-year tree productive without converting it to a hard-pruned annual system.

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Tamil Nadu
  • Kerala