Can okra be planted in summer? A guide to planting times
Okra is perhaps not very familiar to many young people, because young people today basically know only a few vegetables like napa cabbage and leaf lettuce. But many middle-aged and older people are quite familiar with okra; in their era, the cultivation rate of okra was fairly common.
Can okra be planted in summer
Okra can be planted all year round, and summer is its peak production season. Okra is a warmth-loving plant that tolerates heat, drought and moisture, but not waterlogging or frost. Because its root system is well developed, it does not need frequent irrigation. The suitable temperature for growth and development is 25-28 degrees C, and it also requires a long photoperiod and sufficient light during growth. Shandong, Beijing, Guangdong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Hunan, Hainan, Yunnan, Anhui, Fujian, Taiwan, China and other provinces and cities, especially in Taiwan, China. In the south it can be planted 2 times a year. Currently common varieties include Changlü, Green Five Star, Early Five Angle, Tokyo Five Angle, New Tokyo No. 5, Wufu, Sanxiang and more than 20 others. The varieties suitable for planting differ by region, and according to regional differences one should adapt to local conditions as much as possible; for example, in the Yangtze River basin and South China, varieties such as “Taiwan Wufu”, “Early Five Angle” and “Green Five Star” are suitable.
What is okra
Okra is also known as goat's horn bean, coffee okra and hairy eggplant. At present okra has become a sought-after high-grade nutritious and health-care vegetable, popular around the world. Its edible part is the seed pod, which comes in green and red types; it is crisp, tender and juicy, smooth but not greasy, with a unique aroma, and is deeply favored by ordinary people. Okra, which in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom has been listed in the catalogue of the best green foods of the new century, is called the “Olympic vegetable” because many countries have designated it as the preferred vegetable for athletes.
It is understood that this plant, native to Africa, also has an easier-to-remember name, “plant Viagra”, and the Japanese call it “green ginseng”. It has the effect of enhancing physical endurance, resisting fatigue and strengthening the kidneys and tonifying deficiency; many countries use it as a medicine for the elderly to strengthen the kidneys and tonify deficiency, and as a coffee additive and substitute. Long-term consumption of okra has effects such as skin care, strengthening the stomach, protecting the liver and strengthening the kidneys. The seeds can be pressed for oil; okra oil is a high-grade vegetable oil whose nutritional content and aroma far exceed those of sesame oil and peanut oil.
The growing environment of okra
In the growing environment of okra, the temperature is generally relatively high; this is mainly because this plant respires relatively quickly, which also makes the plant's cells more prone to aging and spoilage. If you want to better preserve okra, then you must control the temperature well. If it is in an environment of 7-10 degrees C, then the plant can be kept fresh for about ten days. However, you must never put crushed ice directly on top of the fruit; this not only fails to preserve it well, but may even cause water-damage spots on the okra. It should be noted that if we buy fresh okra in daily life, then we must prevent bruising, because after bruising it will turn black before long and will no longer be edible.
Therefore, the storage temperature of okra must be given special attention. If the temperature is too high, then respiration will speed up and cause rapid aging of the plant; if the temperature is too high, then chilling injury will occur. Therefore, the best temperature for storing okra should be 7-19 degrees C; be sure to keep this firmly in mind!
What effects does okra have
Okra has many effects. Because its flowers are very beautiful, it is also a very good ornamental plant. In addition, okra is also rich in nutritional value and is a common Chinese herbal medicine.
First: the nutritional components of okra
It contains large amounts of protein, fat, dietary fiber, cholesterol, vitamin A, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin C, vitamin E, various trace elements and so on.
Second: edible effects
The fruit of okra contains a sticky substance as well as various sugars and proteins, so eating it regularly can effectively help the body digest, which has a very good effect on enhancing resistance, protecting the liver and regulating the spleen and stomach.
Okra contains large amounts of nutrients such as calcium, iron and sugars, which are of great benefit in preventing and treating anemia. It contains large amounts of vitamin A and carotene, and taking it regularly can protect our eyesight very well.
The large amounts of zinc and selenium it contains are trace elements essential to the body; they can effectively strengthen the constitution and have a very good effect on preventing and resisting cancer.
It can thus be seen that okra can be planted at any time throughout the year, but summer is its peak production season, meaning summer is its best planting time. Moreover, okra's nutritional value is also very rich, and it has now become a high-grade nutritious and health-care vegetable that everyone seeks.