QUESTION : How do you grow okra at abode ? Does it mature well in the home garden ? -Ted S.
ANSWER : Okra is a ardent atmospheric condition harvest that prosper in USDA zones five through 11 . If you do n’t have enough space for an out-of-door garden at your rest home , you may still grow gumbo plants indoors . Growing your okra indoors will also facilitate to protect your plants from uncouth pests and bad weather condition .
Purchase a five - gallon container or a container with a ten - inch diam . If the container does n’t already have drainage maw , practise three to four gob into the bottom , making each pickle no bigger than a quarter of an inch . occupy the container with a clean potting mix . Never use grease dug up from the grand or any outdoor location , as it will typically contain worm or pathogens that could harm or even kill your plants .
Soak your lady’s-finger seed in a cup or cup of tea with halfhearted water and go forth them overnight before planting . Soaking the seeds will help oneself to break up the seed pelage which will serve your seeds germinate faster and easier . establish a row of three to five okra seed one in deep into the soil and spaced about three inch apart from each other . Provide enough water supply to wash the potting mix but do not allow it to become soggy . Keep the dirt moist at all times during the seed germination period of time , until sprouts start to issue .
If your home base has a location that sustain plenty of sunshine each day , use it as a light source for your okra plant . You may also need to convey in an alternative lightsome source to supplement , if the location does n’t get at least eight hours of sun per day . Use a fluorescent fixture lamp , or another sort of unreal light , and a sunny spot in your home to shine light over the container for at least eight hours per twenty-four hours . Keep the temperature at or over 60 degree F and look for go forth sprouts anywhere between six and 18 daytime after planting .
Once sprouts emerge , increase the temperature to 70 to 75 degrees F or ardent , as Abelmoschus esculentus performs better in ardent weather condition environments . go on to provide eight or more hours of spark per twenty-four hour period after germination . offer approximately one - half inch of urine per week , allow the soil to dry out out between waterings . Okra is somewhat drought - patient of and can outlast for up to a month without watering , though it will perform much well with a coherent but moderate supply of water . Overwatering can lead to fungous disease like root decomposition .
Okra industrial plant that are grown outdoors can grow up to over six pes . Container plant wo n’t get this tall , but they may still take stake as they continue to originate . Watch for okra pods to start seem around 50 to 60 days after planting . harvesting pods when they become three to five inches long by cutting their fore with a knife , but be thrifty not to tailor into the source pod . Do n’t pass on pods on the plant for too long , as they will become woody and lose their flavor and will only be unspoilt for ejaculate harvesting if they are n’t harvested when ripe . Harvesting okra often will also advance your plant ’s product .
