Okra is hailed as the "green ginseng" - what are its benefits and how do you grow it in pots?
Okra, also known as lady's finger, yellow okra, and sunset hibiscus, is extremely nutritious, and eating it regularly is good for human health. So, what benefits and effects does okra have? What are the methods for growing okra in pots?Let's take a look together!
I. What benefits and effects does okra have?
1. Detoxification and beauty
Besides being high in vitamin A, okra also contains a fair amount of vitamin C, which can eliminate toxins from the body and has a certain effect on whitening the skin and improving skin elasticity.
2. Weight loss benefits
Okra is a green, healthy vegetable and a natural health-food for weight loss. It is a low-calorie plant with little fat: 100 g of young okra pods contain only 0.1 g of fat, but they are high in other substances such as protein, calcium, and phosphorus, so it is an excellent weight-loss food and very suitable for people trying to lose weight.
3. Restoring eyesight
Okra is rich in vitamin A, a component that is good for the eyes and can help maintain good vision.
4. Cancer prevention and anti-cancer
No introduction is needed - this is recognized as one of the top-notch anti-cancer foods.
5. Relieving fatigue and restoring strength
Okra contains pectin and various polysaccharides, which can relieve fatigue and restore physical strength. It has a clear effect on preventing and treating stomach ailments, and it can also strengthen the body's resistance and immunity.
6. Preventing cardiovascular disease
The viscous substance in okra is rich in soluble fiber, which can lower cholesterol and blood lipids in the human body and can prevent cardiovascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
7. Nourishing the kidneys and strengthening yang
Okra has long enjoyed the reputation of “plant Viagra”; its viscous protein has the effect of nourishing the kidneys and promoting sperm production, and it has an auxiliary therapeutic effect on kidney deficiency and prostate inflammation.
8. Calcium supplementation
The calcium content of okra is equal to that of dairy products, but its absorption is more than double that of calcium, making it the most ideal food for calcium supplementation.
II. What are the methods for growing okra in pots?
1. Raising seedlings
(1) Soak the okra seeds for 12 hours, then place them at 25-30°C to promote germination. After about 24 hours the seeds begin to sprout, and when 60%-70% of the seeds have “broken through” they can be planted. Dibbling is the preferred planting method, with 3 plants per hole and a hole depth of 2-3 cm.
Germination: from sowing to the flattening of the 2 cotyledons is the germination stage, taking about 10-15 days. Sown at the optimal temperature of 25-30°C, the seeds germinate and emerge in 4-5 days. Usually direct sowing in the open takes about 7 days for seedlings to emerge, while plastic film mulching can bring emergence forward by 2-4 days.
Seedling stage: from the flattening of the 2 cotyledons until a few flowers open, taking about 40-45 days. Generally, after the cotyledons have fully unfolded, more true leaves unfold after 15-25 days. Thereafter, one true leaf appears every 2-4 days. Growth is slow during the seedling stage, especially when the soil temperature is too low.
(2) Seedling-raising and transplanting method: raise seedlings at 25°C, and they germinate and emerge in 4-5 days. The seedling age is 30-40 days, and they are planted out when the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves.
2. Flowering and fruiting
From the first flower to the end of harvest takes about 85-120 days. The second flower opens 50-55 days after emergence. The number of days from flowering to harvest for the second flower is slightly longer. Thereafter, as the temperature rises, the harvest time shortens. Usually the first harvest can be made about 70 days after sowing. At the optimal temperatures of 28-32°C during the day and 18-20°C at night, they can be harvested 4 days after flowering. After okra flowers and sets fruit, its growth rate speeds up and its vigor increases, especially growing faster at high temperatures: in July it unfolds one true leaf every 3 days, while in September it takes 4-5 days to unfold one true leaf.
3. Harvesting
From sowing to the formation of young pods, okra takes about 60 days. The entire harvest period then lasts 60-70 days. The picking standard for okra is a pod length of 8-10 cm, a fresh green outer surface, and seeds inside that have not yet aged. If harvesting is not timely, the flesh ages, the fiber increases, and the edible commercial value drops greatly. Generally, after the first harvest, pick once every 2-4 days in the early stage, and as the temperature rises the harvest interval shortens. In August, during the peak fruiting period, harvest once a day or every other day. After September, as the temperature drops, harvest once every 3-4 days. When harvesting, it is best to use scissors and wear gloves, so that the bristles or prickly tubercles on the stems, leaves, and fruits do not scratch the skin and cause unbearable itching; at this point, washing with soapy water or lightly roasting over a fire can reduce the degree of pain and itching. Usually the young pods are harvested 4 days after the flowers fade, when the quality is excellent.
4. Pest and disease control
Viral diseases: mainly viral disease. This disease is spread by aphids, so aphids should be controlled in good time.
Pests: mainly aphids and ants. You can choose 50% pirimicarb or pirimicarb wettable powder at 2000-2500 times dilution; or 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution for spray control.