The nutritional value of okra is not sensational, about 86% water and only
approximately 2-3% protein, 0.2% fat, 3–10% carbohydrate, 1% fibre and 0.8% ash.
It contains reasonable amounts of carotene and about 21 mg/100 g Vitamin C.
Nevertheless okra has magical culinary properties, giving body to sauces, such as
enjoyed in the Creole dish called gumbo. The word “gumbo” is taken from the
Bantu word for okra.
Plant breeding takes place mainly in India and in North America, where about
thirty named, improved varieties are available. F1 hybrids such as Annie Oakley and
Cajun Delight have been developed which normally outperform open pollinated
varieties.
PLANTING
Propagation: by seed, which is round, about 5 mm in diameter, and dark green to
dark brown in colour. The seed should be soaked in warm water for 24 hours before
planting, sown directly into its growing place as it is easily damaged if seedlings are
transplanted.
C), so
soak the seed - see “Propagation” above. Germination rate normally falls rapidly, to
0% in 1 or 2 years even when stored cool and dry. There are about 15–18,000 seeds
per kg.
Soil: okra will grow in almost any soil, but prefers well-drained loams that are not
too moist. If sweetcorn grows well, then okra will also normally grow well. The
optimum pH is about 6–7 (“intermediate tolerance” to acidity). Okra likes plenty of
potash so it can be a good crop to plant after a fire. Too much manure produces
many leaves but little fruit.
Seed rate: normally 2 or 3 seeds are planted on ridges, sometimes in furrows or on the
flat, and sometimes then thinned to the best plant. An average rate is about 4–8 kg/ha.
Seed is often soaked in water for a few hours before planting. Soil temperature and
moisture should be high.
Spacing: final spacing should be 60–90 cm between rows, 20–40 cm between
plants.
Depth: 2–5 cm
GROWTH CONDITIONS
months.
Temperature: many varieties of okra need four months of hot weather, and okra
C. The plant is
killed by frost.
Rainfall: okra does not thrive with very heavy rainfall, and needs irrigation in arid
regions.
Altitude: okra is normally associated with the lowland tropics and subtropics.
Pests: Root-knot nematodes can cause big yield loss but can be controlled with crop
rotation, and some varieties have some resistance.
Diseases: Virus (Leaf Curl, Mosaic and Yellow Vein), Anthracnose, Powdery
Mildew, Dry Rot, Stem Rot, Leaf Spot, Leaf Blight and Black Leaf Mould. Botrytis
may arise in cold and damp conditions.
Germination: this can be very slow, especially in cool soil (minimum 16°
only grows slowly when the temperature falls much below about 25°
Growth period: 60 1– 20 days to first harvest, which continues for another 2 or 3