How to Grow Okra? Seed Prices and Planting Methods for the "Green Ginseng"

Okra, also known as yellow okra, originated in China and Japan. It contains pectin, arabinogalactan and other substances, and has the effects of aiding digestion, treating gastritis and gastric ulcers, and protecting the skin and gastric mucosa. It is hailed as one of the best health vegetables for humans, and its planting area is also expanding year by year. So how do you grow okra? What are the seed prices and planting methods?

1. What is the price of okra seeds?

The price of okra seeds is about 40 to 60 yuan per jin, but it varies depending on the seed variety, quality, place of origin and purchase quantity. Okra is mostly propagated by seed in production, and can be grown by raising seedlings for transplanting or by direct sowing. Raising seedlings for transplanting uses about 0.6 jin of seed per mu, while direct sowing uses about 2 jin of seed per mu. From sowing to the formation of the first tender pod, okra takes about 55 days; after that, the entire harvest period lasts 90 to 120 days, and the whole growth period can reach about 150 days or even longer. The yield per mu is mostly around 2000 to 3000 kg.

2. How do you grow okra? What are the planting methods?

1. Land preparation and fertilization

For the plot prepared for growing yellow okra, after the previous crop is harvested, deep plowing should be carried out in autumn and winter in a timely manner, to a depth of 30 cm, so as to deepen the cultivated soil layer, further loosen the soil, and enhance the soil's ability to retain water and fertilizer. Before planting, prepare the soil so that it is fine, level, loose and soft, with a loose surface and firm subsoil.

2. Sowing at the right time

Direct sowing is mostly used, but raising seedlings for transplanting is also possible. Generally, sowing is done in mid-May, planting out in mid-June, and heavy harvesting in August.

3. Careful sowing

Yellow okra seeds have a hard seed coat. Before sowing, the seeds should be soaked for 12 hours and then placed at 25°C to promote germination. Sow when 60% to 70% of the seeds have “broken their mouths”. Dibbling is preferable for sowing. The bed width is 85 cm, the bed ditch width is 30 cm, 1 row is planted per bed, the hole spacing is 30 to 35 cm, and 2 to 4 seeds are sown per hole, with a hole depth of 2 to 3 cm. Water first, then sow, and then cover with soil about 2 cm thick. Seedlings are mostly raised in nutritional pots and plug trays, sowing 2 seeds per cell, and thinning to a single seedling when there are 2 to 3 true leaves.

4. Thinning and intertillage

After yellow okra emerges, thin the seedlings in a timely manner. When there are 2 to 3 true leaves, remove diseased, weak and small seedlings, leaving 2 plants per hole. After the seedlings emerge, carry out timely intertillage and weeding, about once every 10 days. Before the first flower opens, intertillage should be strengthened and the seedlings appropriately checked to promote root development. After flowering and fruiting, the plants grow faster, and intertillage should be carried out after each topdressing and watering. Before the rows close, carry out intertillage and earth up the soil to prevent the plants from lodging. In July and August, when the hot and rainy season arrives, weeds grow very quickly, so weeds should be pulled promptly to prevent them from running wild.

5. Fertilizer and water management

Yellow okra is relatively tolerant of drought and moisture. During the growing period, it requires relatively high air and soil humidity, especially during the flowering and fruiting period, when sufficient water is needed. Yellow okra has a long growth and harvest period, with the whole growth period being about 100 days. On the basis of applying sufficient base fertilizer, topdressing should be applied appropriately. The first topdressing is carried out after emergence, applying 6 to 7 kg of urea per mu; the second is seedling-promoting fertilizer, applying 15 to 20 kg of compound fertilizer in furrows after final thinning; during the flowering and fruiting period, apply 1 heavy fertilization, applying 25 to 30 kg of compound fertilizer. After entering the fruit-picking period, according to the growth condition, apply topdressing multiple times in small amounts as appropriate to prevent lodging or premature aging. Summer is the peak harvest period for yellow okra, when water demand is high and the surface temperature is high. Watering should be done before 9 a.m. or after sunset in the afternoon, to avoid damaging the roots by watering under high temperatures. During the rainy season, pay attention to drainage to prevent seedling death.

6. Setting up supports and removing leaves

In summer, supports should be set up to prevent lodging. Bamboo poles or branches 1 m long can be inserted beside the plant roots to support the plants. In the early growth stage, prevent excessive vegetative growth from causing spindly growth. In the middle and late stages, promptly remove the old leaves on the nodes below the harvested tender pods, which can both improve ventilation and light conditions, reduce nutrient consumption, and reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases. For plants kept for seed pods, promptly pinch off the growing tips, which can promote the ripening of the seed pods, help the seeds become plump, and improve seed quality.

7. Pest and disease control

Yellow okra has fewer diseases but more insect pests. The main ones are aphids, thrips, viral diseases, etc. For each mu, 1000 to 1500 mg of 10% phorate granules can be applied in strips when applying base fertilizer in the planting furrow. If pests occur later during the growth period, 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate, abamectin, fenbutatin oxide, fenpropathrin and others can be sprayed for control, once every 5 to 7 days.

Overall, yellow okra seeds are mostly grown by direct sowing. You can use the above planting methods as a reference and then adjust them according to your own actual situation.