Seeds Specifications
| Common Name | Okra, Gumbo, Ladyfinger, Bhindi. Abelmoschus esculentus (Botanical name) |
| Height | Grows more than 4 feet and can spread 3 feet wide. |
| Flower Colour | Yellow |
| Bloom Time | summer, rainy, winter |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to grow |
Planting and care
- Eliminate weeds when the plants are young, then mulch heavily to prevent more weeds from growing
- Keep
the plants well watered throughout the summer months; 1 inch of water
per week is ideal, but use more if you are in a hot, arid region
- After the first harvest, remove the lower leaves to help speed up production
- Ladys Finger does not like to have its roots disturbed
Okra Varsha care
- You can start okra seeds indoors in peat pots under full light 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost date
- Keep the seeds overnight in tepid water to help speed up germination
- Okra plants are tall, so be sure to space out the rows 3 to 4 feet apart
| Sunlight | full sun |
| Watering | It needs to be evenly moist throughout the growing season. |
| Soil | Sandy loam to clay loam soil (pH 6.5 to 7.5). |
| Temperature | 22 to 35 degree C |
| Fertilizer | Before planting, apply 1 to 2 pounds of an all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10. |
| Harvest Season | The
first harvest will be ready about 2 months after planting. Harvest the
okra when its about 2 to 3 inches long. Harvest tender pods every other
day. |
Okra Varsha special feature
Okra
is traditionally a southern U.S. plant that thrives in warm weather. It
is easy to grow and use and looks great throughout the growing season
due to its beautiful flowers. Okra is also rich in vitamin A and low in
calories.
Okra Varsha uses
Medicinal Use:
- To maintain the best nutritional value of okra, it is suggested not to overcook it
- The pods are among the very low-calorie vegetables
- They provide just 30 calories per 100 g besides containing no saturated fats or cholesterol
- They
are rich sources of dietary fibre, minerals, and vitamins; often
recommended by nutritionists in cholesterol controlling and weight
reduction programs
- The pods contain healthy amounts of vitamin A, and flavonoid anti-oxidants such as beta carotenes, xanthin and lutein
- It is one of the green vegetables with highest levels of these anti-oxidants
- Research
suggests that consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps the body
develop immunity against infectious agents, reduce episodes of cold and
cough and protect the body from harmful free radicals
- Note: Use only after consulting the specialist
- The veggies are rich in the B-complex group of vitamins like niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin and pantothenic acid
- The pods also contain good amounts of vitamin K
- Vitamin K is a co-factor for blood clotting enzymes and is required for strengthening of bones
- The pods are an also good source of many important minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese and magnesium
Culinary Use:
- Okra is a plant that produces an edible pod that is eaten as a vegetable
