Tips on how to grow Okra from seed to harves

The origin of Okra can be traced from Africa. The botanical name of Okra plant is Hibiscus esculentus. Why the common name are Okra, lady’s fingers. This plant known as Okra is a heat-loving annual plant that actually requires about fifty-five to sixty-five frost-free days with a temperature consistently above 85°F for full growth, flowering, and pod development. If you actually want to plant Okra you need to sow the Okra seed in the garden four weeks after the average last frost date in spring.
Furthermore, Okra plant is a tender, heat-loving annual plant that can grow four to seven feet tall and it produces a green and sometimes red seedpod which can be harvested when they are about three to five inches long. This plant has a prickly stems and a large maple-like leaves, yellow, hibiscus-like flowers with red or purplish centers. Some of the mature pods contain buckshot-like seeds.

Tips on how to grow Okra

The land preparation: The Okra plant need to be planted in full sun. This crop really grows best in loose, well-drained soil. This plant actually prefers a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8.  Make sure you add aged compost to planting beds in advance of planting and gypsum to soil that is slow draining.
Okra planting time: Like I said earlier okra is a heat-loving annual plant that requires about fifty-five to sixty-five frost-free days with temperatures consistently above 85°F for full growth, flowering, and pod development. You need to sow the Okra seed in the garden four weeks after the average last frost date in spring. Also make sure the planting soil temperature is at least 65°F. Don’t forget that the Yields may decrease if the air temperature falls below 70°F.
The spacing and planting: Make sure you sow the Okra seeds ½ to one inch deep set six inches apart. You can space rows twenty-four to thirty-six inches apart. Also make sure you thin successful seedlings from twelve to eighteen inches apart.
The feeding and watering: You need to keep the Okra plant evenly moist until they are established. You can keep established plants on the dry side. Make sure you add aged compost to planting beds in advance of planting and again at midseason. You can also add gypsum if the soil is slow draining.
Some of the companion plants are cucumber, basil, eggplant, melons, southern peas and peppers.
Growing Okra plant in container: This particular plant does not grow well in containers. You can choose spacing-saving varieties for container growing.
Disease and pest control in Okra plant: Pest like aphids and flea beetles may attack okra. You can pinch out aphid-infested vegetation or you can knock off flea beetles and aphids from the plants with a strong stream of water. This plant is susceptible to verticillium and fusarium wilt which can actually cause the Okra plants to suddenly wilt, dry up, and die, mainly in midsummer just as the plants begin to produce. Try as much as possible to keep the garden clean and free of debris. Make sure you remove and dispose infected plants. You can also rotate crops to prevent the buildup of soil borne diseases.
How to harvest Okra: You can pick the Okra pods when they are about two to four inches long. The Okra will be less gluey. You can harvest the pods at least every other day once the flower petals fall and pods set. Like I said earlier the Okra will be ready for harvest fifty-five to sixty-five days after planting. Make sure you wear a glove when harvesting the okra to prevent potential skin irritation from prickles on pods.
Furthermore, starting a commercial Okra farming can be very profitable if it is done in a proper way. If you really want to venture into commercial Okra farming you can purchase the OKRA CULTIVATION book on Amazon Store for $7. This book contains a step by step guide on how to grow Okra from seed to harvest. To purchase this book on Amazon you can click the button below.