If you are a fan of Okra, then consider growing your own. Not only will it be easy to harvest the fruit and decorate with beautiful leaves but there are many other benefits as well!
The gumbo that you make with okra may be beneficial in many ways, not only does it taste great but also provides protection against diabetes and can help control blood sugar levels! You can also consume okra pickled or roasted.
Now, let’s see how to grow your own supply of okra at home:
Step 1:
First, get a 5 gallon bucket or large mouthed pots and drill 4 holes in the bottom. Then fill it up with fresh potting soil (not from your outdoor garden but from a store-bought one).
Step 2:
Soak the okra seeds in a glass of water for 12-24 hours before planting to speed up germination.
The Okra should be planted in a row, around 3 inches from each other and 1 inch deep. Water the plant well but don’t let it drown out – make sure there’s enough moisture to stay healthy!
Germinating time can take up anywhere between 15-20 days.
Step 3:
Okra is a vining plant that needs plenty of sunlight. If you can’t provide it with 7-8 hours per day, use artificial lights instead to germinate and grow okras in about one week or two.
Maintain the temperature at 60 degrees f (or higher) throughout this time period.
Step 4:
After 17-18 days of germination, increase the temperature to 70 degrees. The seedlings will still need 8 hours of light a day for this stage but they are now ready for their next phase!
Step 5:
Water the plant about a ½ inch and let it dry out until next watering.
Step 6:
The best time to thin out your seedlings is when they are about 3 inches tall. The smallest and thinnest ones should be weeded from this planting population, while leaving the healthiest plant behind.
Step 7:
Give your plant a weekly dose of fertilizer when it is between 5 and 6 inches tall. It’s also important to give some fertilizers each time you see produce fruit on the vine!
Step 8:
When the plant is more than 6 inches, think about it’s structure and support. Okra plants can grow up to 4 feet in indoor conditions or up a whopping 6 towards an outdoor setting!
Step 9:
The fruit will be ready for harvest after about two months. You should pick it while its still green or else the taste won’t be good. If you harvest the plant regularly it will produce better fruit.