What Is Okra?
Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is an annual fruit vegetable crop propagated through seed and commonly grown commercially in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. It is a traditional crop in South Africa, which requires relatively low agronomic inputs, but can contribute substantially to sustainable agricultural production and productivity. It is also grown in warmer temperate regions of the Mediterranean region. This species is under-exploited and has the potential of contributing towards food, nutritional and health security for the alarmingly growing population. It could also potentially make a vital contribution to income generation and poverty alleviation. Okra is a nutritious fruit vegetable in the family Malvaceae.
The immature fruit are consumed in small quantities in developing countries in the world, but the crop is rarely produced in some areas of South Africa. The biological functions of mucilage within the plant includes aiding water storage, decreases diffusion in plants, aids in seed dispersal and germination, and acts as a membrane thickener and food reserve. It contains proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins that play a substantial role in human health and nutritional security.
Consumption of the young and green immature okra fruit can be in different forms such as boiled, fried or cooked. Okra seeds contain about 20% protein and 20% oil. The seeds can be dried and the dried seeds are a nutritious material that can be used to prepare vegetable curds or roasted and ground to be used as a coffee additive or substitute. Moreover, okra leaves can also be used as animal feed. In a similar manner, the green leaf buds and flowers are also edible to animals. Okra fruit have been found to also have a medical application as a plasma replacement or blood volume expander.
How To Grow Okra In South Africa
Okra (Hibiscus esculentus) is valued for its edible green seed pods. It is rarely eaten as is, except when fried with a meal; a small quantity is usually cooked with other vegetables or added to soups and stews.
Okra grows best in well-drained, sandy loam soils. A poorly drained soil may cause the plant to drown. Okra is highly sensitive to soils with a hardpan: soil compaction can severely restrict plant growth.
The optimal soil temperature for growth is 24°C to 32°C, and the minimum soil temperature is 18°C. Damping off (seed rot) and seed decay are likely to occur at a soil temperature below 21°C.
Preparation Of The Soil For Growing Okra
Turn the soil after the harvest in autumn and early spring. This will expose overwintering insects to frost, killing them, and bring weed seeds to the surface to germinate. The weed seedlings will be destroyed when you disc the soil before planting, thereby reducing chemical use and saving on labour for weeding.
Recommended row spacing is 71cm to 96cm, with 20cm to 30cm between plants in the row. Treat the seeds to reduce damping off and plant them 2cm to 5cm deep. The recommended seeding rate is four to six seeds per 30cm.
When the plants are 8cm tall, thin them out so that they are 20cm to 30cm apart. Between 5kg and 6kg of seeds are required to plant 1ha. If a precision planter is used, plant at a rate of 3kg/ha.
Okra has a thick seed coat and does not germinate easily. Encourage germination by soaking seeds in water four to six hours or overnight immediately before planting. The seed must be surface dried for mechanical planting. Before planting, carry out a soil analysis and follow its recommendations. A high level of nitrogen (N) will cause excessive vegetative growth, reducing yield.
If soil tests indicate a high pH, apply lime three to four months before seeding.
Regular Irrigation For Growing Okra
The following are recommendations; adjust, if need be, to suit farm conditions.
Before planting, apply:
- Nitrogen: between 13kg/ha and 22kg/ha at planting. Side-dress with an additional 16kg to 23kg N/ha when the plants are 20cm to 25cm tall, or use 11kg N/ha after first fruit set, and again after four to six weeks.
Nitrogen is necessary to ensure a long harvest period. Avoid excessive rates, as they can cause the okra to become too vegetative, which will reduce yield.
