Okra Seed Prices and Planting Methods Explained in Detail
Okra is also known as yellow okra, goat's horn bean, kidney-tonifying vegetable, etc. It is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Abelmoschus in the mallow family, native to India and now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. In China, it is also cultivated on a large scale in Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong and other places. It has long been known as the king of vegetables and has extremely high cultivation value. Let's take a look together below at okra seed prices and planting methods!
How much does okra seed cost per jin?
Okra seed prices are about 40 to 60 yuan per jin, but they vary depending on the seed variety, quality, place of origin and purchase quantity. In production, okra is mostly propagated by seed and can be raised as seedlings for transplanting or directly sown. For seedling transplanting, about 0.6 jin of seed is used per mu, while for direct sowing, about 2 jin of seed is used 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, with yields mostly around 2,000 to 3,000 kg per mu.
Okra Sowing Methods
1. Direct sowing in the field: Spring sowing is best for okra. Before sowing, soak the seeds for 12 hours and then place them at 25 to 30°C to promote germination. Sow when 60 to 70% of the seeds have “broken their mouths.” Hole sowing is preferable, with 3 plants per hole and a hole depth of 2 to 3 cm. Water first, then sow, and then cover with about 2 cm of soil.
2. Seedling raising and transplanting: In early to mid-March, raise okra seedlings in cold frames or solar greenhouses. Before sowing, soak the seeds to promote germination and sow them in spots at a plant and row spacing of 10 cm, covering with about 2 cm of soil. After sowing, keep the seedbed soil temperature at 25°C, and they will sprout and emerge in 4 to 5 days. When the seedlings are 30 to 40 days old, they can be planted out.
Okra Planting Methods
1. Land preparation and fertilization: After the previous crop is harvested, the okra planting plot should be deeply plowed in autumn and winter in a timely manner. Before planting, prepare the land until it is fine, level, loose and soft. Spread 5,000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 20 kg of compound fertilizer per mu, then open furrows and make beds.
2. Thinning and intertillage: After okra seedlings emerge, carry out intertillage and weeding in a timely manner, about once every 10 days. Before the first flower opens, intertillage should be strengthened and the seedlings appropriately hardened off to promote root development. Before the rows close, intertillage and earth up to prevent the plants from lodging.
3. Fertilizer and water management: During the growth period, okra requires relatively high air and soil humidity, especially during the flowering and fruiting stage, when sufficient water is needed. At the same time, 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.
4. Setting up supports and removing leaves: In summer, supports should be set up for okra to prevent lodging. In the early growth stage, excessive vegetative growth should be prevented to avoid spindly growth. In the middle and late stages, old leaves on the nodes below the harvested tender pods should be removed in a timely manner. For fruits kept for seed, the growing tips should be pinched off in a timely manner to promote the ripening of the seed fruits.
5. Timely harvesting: From sowing to when the plant height is about 30 cm and there are 7 to 9 true leaves, okra begins to flower and set pods. The formation of the first tender pod 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.
Okra Pest and Disease Control
1. Phytophthora blight
[Damage] Yellow okra can be infected at the seedling stage and adult plant stage. When seedlings grow beyond 20 cm, the lesions spread from the leaves to the main stem, making the stem thinner and discolored. In the early stage of the disease, the lesions are dark green, water-soaked and irregular in shape, and after expansion they turn brown.
[Control] At the early stage of the disease, use 72% mancozeb and cymoxanil WP at 500 times dilution, or 69% dimethomorph and mancozeb WP at 900 times dilution, or 64% oxadixyl and mancozeb WP at 400 times dilution, or 58% metalaxyl and mancozeb WP at 500 times dilution, spraying once every 7 to 10 days for 2 to 3 treatments.
2. Viral disease
[Damage] After the plant is infected, the whole plant is affected, especially the tender leaves at the top, which are very obvious. The leaves show mosaic or brown mottled patterns. If infected early, the plant is stunted, and fruit set is reduced or absent.
[Control] At the early stage of the disease, use 5% moroxydine and copper WP at 400 to 500 times dilution, or 20% virus A WP at 400 times dilution, or 15% zhibingling at 1,000 times dilution, or 83% Zeng Kang Ji at 100 times dilution for 3 treatments, once every 7 to 10 days.
3. Poisonous caterpillars
[Damage] Poisonous caterpillars mainly harm yellow okra at the seedling stage. They often feed on leaf flesh after emergence, causing notches, and in severe cases leave only the leaf veins.
[Control] Spray with 10% chlorfenapyr EC at 1,500 times dilution, or 5% fipronil SC at 1,500 times dilution, or avermectin EC plus fenvalerate EC at 3,000 times dilution.
4. Ants
[Damage] After yellow okra blooms, ants often gather on the floral organs and cause damage.
[Control] Spray with 48% chlorpyrifos EC at 1,000 times dilution, or 5% fipronil EC at 1,500 times dilution, or mix fipronil into a 0.3% medicinal solution with sawdust and scatter it where ants appear to trap and kill them.