Growing okra from seeds: planting rules and plant care
Growing okra from seeds can be done at home without special skills. By choosing the right soil, planting material, as well as following the care recommendations, it will be easy to get the desired result.
Which grade of okra to choose
The best varieties for the Moscow region:
- Green and white velvet. The seeds can be sown directly into open ground. With proper care, the bushes will begin to bear fruit as early as 65 days. You can pick vegetables until the onset of frost.
- Bombay. A popular variety that fruiting occurs 75 days after germination. Bushes reach 60 cm in height.
- Vlada. The plant can grow from 0.4 to 0.64 m in height. The first collection falls on the 65th day.
- Juno. Perfect for growing in the Moscow region. This is a late-ripening variety. Harvesting can only be done 90 days after germination. The height of an adult bush can reach 1.2 m.
White cylindrical, tall and dwarf okra is also very popular.
Growing okra from seeds: getting seedlings
In order for an exotic plant to develop well and give a high-quality harvest, it is necessary to provide it with the correct lighting, since a lot will depend on this.
When is it better to plant seeds for seedlings
Sowing okra should be done after the soil has warmed up well. This is often the beginning of June. In warm regions, the process can be postponed to May.
Before sowing grains, you must remember that the age of seedlings for planting should be within 1.5 months. Therefore, you should not delay sowing seeds.
Planting material processing rules
In order for the grains to sprout quickly and well, they must be properly prepared. For this, the seeds are soaked in warm water for a day. You can also use special preparations that improve and accelerate germination.
Choosing a container for growing seedlings
Sowing okra for seedlings is recommended only in deep containers. Small pots are not suitable for the plant, as the crop has long stem roots. Individual vessels are also a good option. These can be both plastic cups and peat vases. It is not recommended to use common boxes, as it is very difficult to transfer okra to transplant.
Soil for growing seedlings
Before you grow okra, you need to choose the right substrate. This is very important, since many types of soil will not allow plants to develop fully.
It is worth sowing grains only in light soils that are rich in various nutrients. You can buy the required substrate at any specialized store. A good option is universal mixes designed for vegetable crops.
You should not additionally fertilize the purchased soil before use. This can lead to an excess of certain minerals.
Planting scheme for okra seedlings
It is necessary to deepen the grains to a depth of about 3 cm. No more than 2 seeds should be placed in each container. For seedlings to appear faster, it is necessary to cover the container with transparent plastic or glass. If this is not done, then the first shoots can be observed in 3 weeks.
Okra: care and planting of seedlings
Only the emerging seedlings are recommended to be fed with mixtures with a large amount of phosphorus in the composition. An excellent option is nitrophoska. To do this, use a mixture with 1 tbsp. l of the drug and 5 l of pure water. Mix everything thoroughly and water the plants. Seedlings need to be fertilized periodically until the moment when several pairs of full-fledged leaves appear.
Do not forget about irrigation. The soil in the container must be constantly moist. Use water for irrigation only separated and at room temperature.
Planting seedlings in a permanent place
It is necessary to transplant plants into open ground after several pairs of leaves appear. In this case, the soil should be warm, about +150 C. If plants are planted in unheated soil, they will root poorly or dry out altogether.
It is recommended to choose only those seedlings that are not elongated and have no signs of disease.
Landing place
Okra is a plant that is very fond of light. Therefore, the site must be chosen one that is located in the center of the garden or one that is reliably protected from drafts. Do not plant seedlings in the shade of partial shade. Solanaceous crops are good predecessors.
The planting site is prepared in autumn or early spring. The site must be carefully dug up, all weeds, dry leaves and grass must be removed. Then add fertilizer to the soil. It could be compost, humus, ash or mineral mixtures (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium).
Okra grows very poorly in acidic soils. Therefore, such a soil is best to produce lime.
Seedling planting scheme
Okra does not like "crowding" on the site. Therefore, it is necessary to plant seedlings in such a way that each instance has enough space and light. The optimal distance between the bushes is 0.3 m, and between the rows - 0.5 m.
Outdoor seedling care
It is necessary to water the culture every other day. If the air temperature is high for a long time outside, then the procedure is carried out once a day. This should be done in the field of sunset or early in the morning.
Weeding should be carried out systematically. This will allow the soil to breathe well, which is very important for okra.
During the period of active growth, the fruits are fed with organic mixtures. You can also use complex mineral preparations. After the first fruits appear, the plants are fertilized with mixtures that contain a lot of potassium.
Possible growing difficulties
Like all exotic plants, okra can be infect powdery mildew... If nothing is done, then the bushes will disrupt photosynthesis, which will lead to yellowing of the leaves.
With improper care, okra can suffer from brown spot. This is often caused by excess moisture in the soil. Thrips, caterpillars and cabbage scoops can also be observed on the leaves.
Everyone can handle growing okra from seeds. The main thing is to plant the seeds in a timely manner, to properly care for the seedlings.