Okra which is sometimes known as gumbo is an annual vegetable that grows in the warm season. It is in the same family as the rose of Sharon, hibiscus and hollyhock. The immature pods of the okra are often used to make soups, stews and could also be steamed. The okra plant grows to a height of up to 6 feet and their hibiscus like-flowers have some ornamental value. The following should be followed when planting Okra.
- Just before the okra is planted, some manure or other organic matter should be mixed in well with the soil. The seedlings may be bought or homegrown and planted in a pot indoors. They should not be transplanted when there is frost or the seedlings will be destroyed
- Choose a place with a lot of sunlight for transplanting and the soil type should have a natural PH level of 6.5 to 7.0.
- The seedlings should be watered about one hour before the transplanting. Their tap roots are very brittle so a lot of care should be taken when removing the seedlings from their containers. The seedlings are then planted inside ridges that are one inch deep and about twenty inches apart.
- Incase of cold, the transplants need to be covered with floating row covering or cloches which should be removed when it is warmer.
- The okra plants should be given about one inch of water every week to give them adequate moisture to thrive. Heat plus moisture provide optimal conditions for rapid growth, which is why summer is the best time to grow okra.
- The pods should be harvested when they are tender and about two or three inches in length. Harvesting should be done regularly possibly every other day and gloves are necessary because the plants have tiny hairs that may cause irritation to the hands.
- Shears for pruning are used to cut off the pods in a way that does not cause any harm to the rest of the plant.
- This plant fortunately has few potential pests but in some cases gophers may target the root of the plant. Leaf cutting ant may attack the plant but this is only in very rare occasions.
- It is advisable to stick to one variety because insects such as bees cross pollinate the plant without regard therefore the same seeds may not be able to be produced again.
Growing okra is simple with this step-by-step guide. It is vital to note that Okra calls for warm weather. It is an excellent ingredient in food.
Okra which is sometimes known as gumbo is an annual vegetable that grows in the warm season. It is in the same family as the rose of Sharon, hibiscus and hollyhock. The immature pods of the okra are often used to make soups, stews and could also be steamed. The okra plant grows to a height of up to 6 feet and their hibiscus like-flowers have some ornamental value. The following should be followed when planting Okra.
- Just before the okra is planted, some manure or other organic matter should be mixed in well with the soil. The seedlings may be bought or homegrown and planted in a pot indoors. They should not be transplanted when there is frost or the seedlings will be destroyed
- Choose a place with a lot of sunlight for transplanting and the soil type should have a natural PH level of 6.5 to 7.0.
- The seedlings should be watered about one hour before the transplanting. Their tap roots are very brittle so a lot of care should be taken when removing the seedlings from their containers. The seedlings are then planted inside ridges that are one inch deep and about twenty inches apart.
- Incase of cold, the transplants need to be covered with floating row covering or cloches which should be removed when it is warmer.
- The okra plants should be given about one inch of water every week to give them adequate moisture to thrive. Heat plus moisture provide optimal conditions for rapid growth, which is why summer is the best time to grow okra.
- The pods should be harvested when they are tender and about two or three inches in length. Harvesting should be done regularly possibly every other day and gloves are necessary because the plants have tiny hairs that may cause irritation to the hands.
- Shears for pruning are used to cut off the pods in a way that does not cause any harm to the rest of the plant.
- This plant fortunately has few potential pests but in some cases gophers may target the root of the plant. Leaf cutting ant may attack the plant but this is only in very rare occasions.
- It is advisable to stick to one variety because insects such as bees cross pollinate the plant without regard therefore the same seeds may not be able to be produced again.
Growing okra is simple with this step-by-step guide. It is vital to note that Okra calls for warm weather. It is an excellent ingredient in food.
