![]() According to the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture, okra needs 400 mm of water during the growing season of three months. Okra is a heavily foliaged crop, so its water requirements are high. Being in the same family as cotton it shares the same complex of pests and diseases therefore okra should not be grown before or after cotton. Okra should be rotated with baby corn, maize, peas, onions, potatoes, fodder grass, or small grains. Smallholder growers in Kenya control weeds by hand hoeing. Okra is harvested over a long period and weed control is important throughout the cropping season. It should be mixed thoroughly with the soil in the planting hole. The general recommendation in Kenya (issued by Horticultural Crops Development Authority) for conventional production (non-organic production) is as follows: well-composted manure should be applied at planting at the rate of 15 to 20 t/ha (17 to 20 gm/plant). Fertilizer can be given in three split applications, at sowing, after 3 weeks, and again at 6 weeks after sowing. When the crop yields 10 t of fresh fruits per hectare, the uptake is 100 kg N, 10 kg P, 60 kg K, 80 kg Ca, and 40 kg Mg. However, with irrigation okra can be grown all year round for the local and off-season export markets.īefore planting, manure or artificial fertilizer has to be mixed well into the top 10 cm of the soil. The main export season in Kenya is October to May hence planting should start in July to target this export season. Spacing of about 1 to 2 feet intra-row and 3 to 4 feet inter-row should be used. In some parts of Kenya, okra is planted 2 x 2 m in flood irrigation basins. Spacing varies from 45 x 45 cm, 50 x 30 cm, or 60 x 15 cm between the rows and within the rows, respectively. About 8 to 10 kg of seed is required per hectare. In Kenya, okra is sown directly in the field. Before planting, it is advisable to soak the okra seeds in water for 24 hours, to break seed dormancy and speed up the germination rate or reduce germination days. Okra plants may be established by direct seeding in the field, by growing seedlings in nursery seedbeds, or by raising seedlings in plastic trays. This species tolerates soils that are slightly acidic and will grow successfully in soils with a pH of 6.0-6.8. Cultivars that are susceptible to root-knot eelworm (Meloidogyne incognita) do not produce a satisfactory crop on infected light or sandy soils. The crop produces reasonably well on most soil types, although a fertile loam is preferable. Early land preparation also permits weed seeds to germinate and allows early cultivation to destroy young weeds before planting. Thorough soil preparation 2 to 3 months before planting is recommended to allow crop residues and organic matter in the soil to decompose before okra is planted. Okra can grow in a wide range of rainfall regimes but needs 400 mm of water for the growing period of about 3 months. If lime is recommended, dolomite should be used and applied 3 to 4 months before the crop is seeded. A soil test will indicate if lime is required to adjust the pH and the amount to apply. Its optimum range of soil pH is between 5.8 and 6.5. it must be frequently fertilized in sandy soils, as soluble nutrients readily leach from the root zone. When the soil fertility level is low, organic manure, fertilizer, or compost can be applied to improve soil productivity. The seeds perform well on fertile, well-drained loamy soil. Okra will grow on a wide range of soils, but it prefers soils high in organic matter. The crop is sensitive to frost and temperatures below 12☌. The optimum temperatures for the growth and production of high-quality pods range between 24 and 30☌. Okra is grown at elevations ranging from sea level to 1600 m. It is believed to have originated in Ethiopia but is also particularly popular in India, West Africa, and Brazil.Ĭlimatic Conditions, Soils, and Water Management Okra can grow 1.2–1.8 m (4–6 ft) tall and as an annual plant, survives only one growing season. The seed pod is a capsule up to 25 cm (10 in) long, containing numerous seeds. The leaves are 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long with 5–7 lobes The plant produces flowers with five white to yellow petals which are 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) in diameter. Okra plants have small erect stems that can be bristly or hairless with heart-shaped leaves. Okra seeds contain a considerable amount of good-quality oil and protein. ![]() The leaves are sometimes used as spinach or cattle feed, the fibers from the stem for cord, the plant mucilage (thick gluey substance) for medical and industrial purposes, and the seeds as a substitute for coffee. ![]() The pods can be conserved by drying or pickling. It is a common ingredient in soups and sauces. Okra, also known as lady's fingers, is mainly grown for its young immature pods, which are consumed as a vegetable, raw, cooked, or fried. ![]()
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