OKRA (Abelmoscus esculentus) what is okra? Okra is also a vegetable crop commonly grown by local farmers in West Africa. The fruits called capsule, read types of fruits here. When young, they are harvested with knife and used in soup preparation.
Land preparation for the planting of Okra
The bush is cleared with cutlass while ridges or heaps are constructed with hoes. Alternatively, the land can be prepared by ploughing, harrowing and ridging.
Varieties/Cultivars of Okra
New lady’s finger and the Perkin’s long pod.
Climatic and soil requirements: Okra requires a temperature of 18CC – 30C, rainfall of 100cm – 150cm per annum and a well-drained loamy soil.
Method of propagation of Okra
By seeds
Planting date for Okra. Early April and May.
Spacing: 60cm x 60cm.
method of Planting: Seeds are planted directly into beds, two to three seeds per hole which should be 3cm deep. Germination occurs as from the 5th day after planting.
Cultural Practices the cultivation of Okra
(i) Thinning and supplying: These can be done where necessary.
(ii) Fertilizer application: Super phosphate fertilizer at 100kg/hectare is required. Ring application is used.
(iii) Weeding: This should be done regularly.
Maturity period of Okra
:This occurs between three and seven
Harvesting: The young and succulent green immature fruits are plucked or harvested with knife. Harvesting is done over a long period of time.
Processing of Okra
: The fruits are used as food.
Storage method: The fresh fruits are stored in a cool place, e.g. refrigerator or the dried ones are stored in sacks.
Pests of Okra, symptoms and control methods
(1) Flea beetles: These insects attack the plants and eat up the leaves. read about biting and chewing insects here. This they do by putting holes on the leaves as they eat them.
Control: Spray with insecticides
(2) Cricket and grasshopper: These insects also defoliate the plant by eating up the leaves and young stems
Control: Spray with insecticides
Diseases of Okra, symptoms and control
(1) Root knot disease: It is caused by eelworm nematode which is found in the soil. read animal pests of crop here
Symptoms: Symptoms include knotting or galling of roots, retarded growth and reduced yield.
Control
(i) Practice crop rotation
(ii) Use resistant varieties
(iii) Treat soil with nematicide e.g. Nemagon
(2) Mosaic disease: It is caused by a virus which is transmitted by piercing and sucking insects. Symptoms include mosaic colouration on the leaves, leading to low yield of the crop.
Control
(i) Spray with insecticide to kill vector
(ii) Uproot and burn infected plants
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