Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) from the Malvaceae family is a vegetable that’s loved by many,
And is an ingredient in some soup and sauce recipes.
Description Of The Okra Plant
The okra can grow up to 120 cm (3.9 ft) in height depending on the variety.
Okra Leaves are green, heart-shaped and lobed usually between three to five lobes.
The flowers are half white and light yellow in colour with a crimsom core, they are self pollinated.
This flowers produce fruits which is the okra pod,
It’s green in colour, long, slender and has a tube like shape, inside it are small white seeds.
The pod can be about 5 cm (2 in) to 10 cm (4 in) in length.
Planting Season For Okra
Okra is grown all year round in Nigeria.
You can choose to plant the crop during the rainy season or dry season,
Planting during the rainy season in southern Nigeria plant between mid-March and April for early planting and early September for late planting.
And in northern Nigeria mid-May for early planting and late August for late planting.
Dry season planting takes place between November – February.
Planting Okra
Step 1: Choose a Location
Choose a location that receives a good amount of sunlight,
Okra loves plenty of sunlight and warm regions,
Avoid waterlogged areas.
Step 2: Land Clearing and Preparation
Cut down shrubs, grasses, remove any dirt on the land or in the container.
Till the soil.
Add manure and incorporate it into the soil.
Step 3: Seed Selection
Okra is propagated from the seed.
You can decide to grow it from the seed or seedlings.
Decide on which variety to grow,
Purchase the seed or seedling,
Seeds from previously grown plants can be used as well,
3a. How to harvest okra seeds from the plants
To save some seeds for next season planting,
Do not harvest all the okra,
Leave some to get matured and dry,
Then you can harvest it and keep it safe for planting.
Step 4: Planting the Seed or Seedling
4a. Growing okra from seeds
You can decide to grow a nursery first then transplant or grow directly on the soil.
Okra can also be grown in containers as well,
Make holes about 2 cm (0.7 in) deep,
Put one seed per hole,
Cover the soil.
Give a spacing of about 30 cm (11.8 in) to 90 cm (35.4 in) by 50 cm (19.6 in) to 90 cm (35.4 in).
4b. Growing from seedlings
Make a hole deep enough to contain the seedling and the soil.
Carefully bring out the soil and the plant from the container.
Place the seedling into the hole and cover it up with soil.
Watering
Once planting is completed water the crop and afterwards water at least once a day,
During the dry season water regularly, during the rainy season everyday watering may not be necessary.
Soil Fertility
Apply manure to the soil after two weeks of planting,
Add manure at regular intervals at least every three weeks.
Maturity and Harvesting
Okra reaches maturity in 50 to 60 days after planting.
Germination takes place between 2 to 3 weeks.
It starts to bud 6 weeks after planting.
Pod appears 3 to 6 days after the flower appears.
2 to 3 days after the pod appears they are ready for harvest.
Pest and Diseases
Diseases
- Powdery mildew
- Fusarium wilt
- White mold
- Southern blight
- Enation leaf curl
- Yellow vein mosaic
Pests
- Aphids
- Army worms
- Bettles
- Spider mites
Pest and Disease Control
- Use certified disease free seed with high resistance to disease
- Weeding
- Remove affected parts immediately.
Companion Crops with Okra
- Pepper
- Corn
- Melon
- Beans
- Green pea
- Cucumber
How Many Okra Plant For a Family
Depending on your usage of the crop and the size of the family,
On average about 6 to 7 plants for a family of five.
Hope this article was useful?
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