Popular among gardeners is the exotic plant okra, growing from the seeds of which - the occupation is not difficult, but requiring certain conditions. In the pulp of this vegetable contains a lot of protein and vitamins, ascorbic and folic acid, iron, it is successfully used in cooking, cosmetology and medicine (especially useful for diabetics).
What does the okra plant look like?
To understand what kind of an unusual vegetable is okra, try to imagine a hybrid of a zucchini, a chili pepper and a string of beans. An annual plant reaching a height of 40 cm to 2 meters (with favorable climatic conditions and proper growing), with a thick stalk on which are many branches, with light green, wide, carved leaves. The fruit is dense, shaped like a pod with a slightly hairy surface (an elongated cylindrical with a pointed end), with peas inside, cut across - it looks like a pentagon with an openwork middle.
Assorted okra
There are many varieties of okra, different in origin (foreign and local selection), maturity, size of the fetus, its color, growing conditions. As an example, we give a description of the grades of okra, the most common in our latitudes:
- Sopilka (mid-maturing ripening). The plant is medium-sized, the stem grows from 100 to 110 cm, its diameter is up to 2.65 cm. The fruit is five-, hexagonal, and grows to 20 cm in length.
- Dibrova (mid-ripening). The variety is short, height reaches 80 cm, the stem diameter is 2 cm. The fruit can have 7-9 facets, it grows to 21 cm in length. It is recommended for open ground, its ovary is used for dietary nutrition.
The least fanciful representatives of this vegetable culture, adapted to our growing conditions and soils, are such varieties:
- White velvet, green velvet - are popular for our vegetable gardens, more suitable, unlike foreign varieties.
- Red velvet is a late variety, aesthetically valuable, fruiting begins after 70 days
- Blondie - refers to early ripening varieties, promising, resistant to colds
- Star of David - the most common, tall, fruits short, up to 8 cm.
Planting okra with seeds
In advance, for a month and a half, before planting a okra in the soil, sow the seeds in pre-prepared containers with soil. It is most rational to begin preparation in the first or second decade of April. Prepared (soaked for two hours) seeds planted in a prepared box (container), to a depth of 1.5 cm, put glass on top or stretch a transparent film.
As soil, take the soil, peat and sand mixed in proportions of 2: 2: 1, preheated in the oven. One of the best options is the one in which the growing of okra seeds from seedlings is made in cups with peat, two or three pieces (to leave one sprout, the strongest). They should be installed in a common container and covered (as described above). In the prepared soil, plant the seedlings directly in the glasses, so the roots of the plant will be less affected.
Landing okra in open ground
Before planting the okra from the seeds in the open ground, hold the seeds for a couple of hours in lukewarm water or in a solution used to stimulate the growth of the roots. Landing should be done after the soil has thoroughly warmed up. Having made pits whose depth is not less than 3-4 cm, pour them well and dip 2-3 seeds into each, sprinkle with earth. Distance between the holes leave at least 25-30 cm (if the variety is short) and 50-60 (for tall plants). When growing okra from seeds, after planting, cover for a while the beds with a film, pulling it on the dug-out arches.
Timings of planting okra
Cultivation of okra from seeds at home starts 30-45 days before planting in open areas in the garden. In some regions, frosts really recede only by the 20th of May, in a more southern part, seedlings or seeds are planted after 10 May. The required soil temperature at a depth that is necessary for disembarkation is not lower than 14-15 ° C. Some experienced horticulturists advise planting seedlings of okra in the first days of June, after the soil is completely heated.
Bamia - growing
Advice of experienced specialists on how to grow okra is simple, since the plant does not require any serious efforts. There are several simple events, the holding of which will help you in growing a good harvest:
- Well fertilize the soil before planting, in this case, no additional fertilizing is required. In case of weak development of plants, you can water them, diluted with water, complex, mineral fertilizer.
- It is impossible to wet the soil, especially during the period preceding the fruiting.
- For active stimulation of tillering, pinch the main stems at a distance of 50, 60 cm from the ground.
- For a tall variety, provide support.
- Timely hill the stems at the base, loosening the ground.
- Growing okra in a greenhouse or under a film, provide plants with frequent airing.
All these simple manipulations constitute the main complex of agrotechnical ways of growing okra, their observance will ensure the plant a comfortable development and abundant harvest. Do not plant the okra on wetlands, or places where groundwater is close to the surface, choose places with a light soil composition that promotes high fertility.
How does okra grow?
The growth of this culture is rapid. The okra is thermophilic, so it is close to eggplant. The optimal temperature, which allows the plant to develop normally, is 23-26 ° C, when the temperature drops to -16 ° C, okra grows and develops, and when it freezes, it perishes. Ogorodniki, sharing experience, how to grow a bamya at the dacha, recommend planting her seedlings. Bamia, growing of fruit-bearing plants is possible only in heated greenhouses or in very hot regions. Land for planting choose well-lit, windless.
Vegetable plant okra - soil
So prepare the soil in the autumn, dig it up and fertilize it with organic, phosphorus and potassium compounds, humus. In the spring, dig again with the addition of ammonium nitrate . Best for this vegetable culture is chernozem, in those areas where it does not, use a greenhouse or shelter from the film, it is believed that okra grows on most soils, except clay, saline or excessively wet. The grown okra from the seeds at home will easily transfer the transplant to the land, if you do it carefully, without disturbing the tender root system of the plant.
Okra plant - watering
Vegetable plant okra does not need frequent watering, it should be done once in five days, provided there is no rain. This regime of watering remains until the time of fruiting, after the first pods on the stems are tied, you need to water the plant twice a month. Watering moderately, do not overdo it so that the tender roots of okra do not start to rot.
Vegetable plant okra - top dressing
Feeding with the growth of okra is made in the case of slow growth, poor soil fertility two or three times, in the period preceding the beginning of the appearance of the ovary. Used for this is a complex of mineral fertilizers, the doses are taken at a minimum. With the onset of the fruiting period, fertilizing is performed once, for this purpose potassium nitrate is used .
The period of flowering okra begins in July, the flower is large, yellowish-creamy, is located in the leaf axilum, there the fetus is formed, the flowering bright okra look spectacular. The first top dressing of mineral elements, you need to make after the appearance of buds, provided that the soil is prepared in good faith for planting seedlings or seeds.
Ointment - care
According to the vegetable growers, planting and caring for okra is not a difficult process, but the fruits of this plant have absolutely unique qualities. The heat-loving, southern plant, with good, proper care, grows well and yields a plentiful harvest, far from being in southern conditions. Planting is best done with seedlings, because seeds have a long period of germination (from 3 to 4 weeks), and require warm, well-moistened soil.
Regular care for the plant, permanent weeding, no assumptions around the okra of soil hardening, are necessary in the first month, in the future such a careful care is no longer a necessity. Watering the okra should be in case of severe drought, if the soil is over-dried, soaking the soil is necessary to a depth of up to 40 cm. In time, weed and loosen the soil, feed and water - this is the minimum set of measures that okra requires.