Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus ) is a member of the mallow family ( Malvaceae ) , which admit cotton , hollyhock and hibiscus . It was originally domesticated in West Africa , where it has been cultivated for thousand of old age . Okra arrived in the Americas between the 16th and early 18th one C via the African striver trade . Once on the shores of North America , okra quickly became a popular mainstay in southern garden and a staple of many regional cuisines . Today , lady’s-finger is lionise both for its culinary versatility and beautiful yellow and purplish hibiscus - like flowers .
Site ItFinding a proper site with full Lord’s Day exposure andgood soilis all important for the winner of your Hibiscus esculentus harvest time . Okra flourish in a range of territory type , provided that the sphere is well - drained and high in constitutional matter . unreasonable moisture in your soil will quickly deteriorate okra ’s delicate radical scheme . The soil pH degree should light in the slightly acidic to virtually impersonal chain of mountains — apH between 5.8 and 6.5is nonpareil . Additionally , okra plant are very improbable ( excluding dwarf hybrids ) , typically acquire between 4 to 6 feet tall , fill in out neighboring harvest .
Plant ItBefore planting okra seeds , consider both air and soil temperature for optimal growth and crop yields . The upper 3 to 4 inches of garden grunge should be above 65 degrees F for successful germination , with daytime atmosphere temperature consistently around 70 degrees F or mellow . In very warm zones , a 2nd okra craw can be plant in summer for former declension harvest .
Okra should be directly seeded in linear quarrel space 3 to 5 feet apart . flora seeds 3/4 inch deep and space every 3 to 4 inches ab initio . After the starts have emerged , thin the okra plant rows to one plant every 10 or 12 inches . right spacing between rows and plants improves air flow , which can aid keep okra pods from rot and lessen the chances of foliage disease .
deal For ItOkra can permit comparatively dry conditions and should only be good water once a calendar week , get between 1 and 1½ inch water . Maintaining regular moisture is specially important during the flower-development phase angle , and the purpose of drip irrigation or cloudburst hoses can be helpful , too .
Weeding around the rows is specially important in the first few weeks after emergence because okra does n’t fare well with heavy challenger . As the okra matures , it will naturally fill in out many of these former contender . Consider apply mulch around your planting to keep weeds at bay and help oneself retain some territory moisture during the rut of summer .
Okra can beside - dressed with fertilizeronce or twice during the growing season . The first program should be timed for the initial bloom period to give the okra seedpod production a helpful boost — approximately five to six weeks after planting , depend on the varietal and your local mood . For okra in realm with a long growing season , a 2d side - medical dressing can be applied six week after the initial fecundation . Do not over-fertilize okra , as excess nitrogen can lead to increase foliage emergence and lower pod yields .
Harvest ItIn the duad of four to six day , okra plants can go from flowering to ripen pods . This speedy adulthood rate means that okra plant pod require to be reap at least every other 24-hour interval , according to Bob Polomski , Clemson Extension plantsman . He paint a picture picking okra pods when they are 2 to 4 inches long .
“ Wait much longer and the pods become tough and sinewy , ” he aver . “ [ This principle of thumb ] applies to any gumbo variety that has ribs or ridges . ”
The older heirloom okra with rounded fuel pod , such as Cow Horn or Cajun Delight , are the exception to this rule and do n’t become hempen until they are much turgid than the ribbed varieties , he explain .
When harvesting gumbo , use a precipitous tongue or pruners to remove pods rather than break them off , which can damage the brittle stems and leaves . Gloves might be helpful , as the okra plant can irritate cutis . Gently handle the glean seedcase because they bruise easily . Refrigerate your unwashed harvest home directly after picking . In optimum shape , freshly harvested gumbo pods can last up to one calendar week . The best storage surroundings is around 50 degrees F , with good ventilation and humid conditions .
Freezing , drying , canning and picklingallow you to extend okra preservation throughout the twelvemonth and can put up value - added merchandise for market , depend on the solid food lawmaking in your area .
It ’s authoritative to remove any sometime turgid okra pods during harvest home to advance stay flower product from your plants . If managed right , okra will continue produce pods throughout the high temperature of summertime into other crepuscle . Near the end of the grow time of year , consider depart several big pod on the flora for seeds . Once the old pods dry out out but before they split open , take the seedcase and keep for next spring . you could store the entire dry out fuel pod for springiness , or remove the seeds from the pods when they are completely ironic and begin to split . grade the pod or seeded player in a sealed container and computer storage in a cool , ironic placement until planting season . When it ’s time to found , plainly break spread the dried pods and sow them directly .
Protect ItRoot - nautical mile nematode is one of the few pestis that can on a regular basis touch okra growers . infestation of these microscopic roundworm can be identified by okra plants with stunted ontogeny and leafage that droop quickly . To support the diagnosis , root for up a suspect plant and inspect for the telltale magnified impertinence or knot spread throughout the etymon system . Luckily , issues can be treated with annual craw - rotation practices or verify with the utilization of commercial stain fumigants .
Other gumbo pest include some well - known troublesome species , such asaphids , stinkbugsandcorn earworms . Aphids will target okra botany but are usually not an take unless there is a severe infestation . The okra pods themselves are threatened by the Indian corn earworms that eat them and stinkbugs whose sap - sucking activity on bud results in deformed pods .
Insecticidal soap sprayer can aid see to it aphids and applications of Bt ( Bacillus thuringiensis ) can aid keep corn earworm legal injury . alas , there are few effective controls for stinkbugs away from environmental variety , like removing neighboring plants that the worm find attractive ( fruit flora and certain weeds ) or by strong-arm removal .
ordered high yield and drought permissiveness make okra a keen crop for market in most regions of the United States . It can be a successful commodity when the harvest is stored right and consumer are educated about the nutritional benefits and astonishing culinary versatility of this southerly staple fibre .
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