Growing Okra

Okra is an annual tropical self-pollinating plant valued for its pods. Unripe pods are used for preparing side dishes and salads, canning. And the ripened fruits are crushed and used as a spice. This plant contains not only ascorbic acid and other vitamins, but also mucous substances that are useful for people suffering from peptic ulcers and other diseases of the digestive system. Possible in the middle zone growing okra only by seedling method. It requires loose, fertile soil.

Seeds are sown in seedling boxes in March and covered with film. Shoots will appear in 10-15 days. When they get stronger and produce several true leaves, they are planted in separate containers. Okra is a very heat-loving plant; it can be grown in open ground in our country only in the Krasnodar Territory. In the middle zone, okra is grown in greenhouses, where the seedlings are planted after the threat of return frosts has passed. As the plant grows will require garter, like tomatoes. The temperature in the greenhouse should be at least 20 degrees, air humidity - 70 percent.

You need to feed okra about twice a month. phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. A couple of months after germination, the plants begin to bloom, and after another 5-6 days they begin to bear fruit. Fruiting will continue until autumn, fruits are collected as they ripen, every 5-6 days. Fruits that are not picked in time will become overripe, and all that remains is to grind them and use them as a spice.Unripe fruits are stored for ten days in ordinary boxes with holes for air.