Backyard cultivation of Okra: A health-beneficial vegetable

Hola Amigos!! This time I brought some agriculture related content... 

Everybody reading this article knows about ‘Bhindi’ or in English speaking countries people call it ‘Lady’s Fingers’. But do you know that its actual name is Okra? 

Yes, it sounds somewhat weird. But it's true as Merlin’s Beard.

Okra is a vegetable that is commonly grown in many parts of the world, particularly in Africa, South Asia and southern United States, but not in Germany. Being cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperature regions, okra is used in the cuisines of many countries. Well, it comes in two colours, green and red. 

With a scientific name, Abelmoschus esculentus, the first use of the word okra appeared in 1679 in the Colony of Virginia. Abelmoschus is Neo-Latin from Arabic, while esculentus is Latin which means being fit for human consumption.

Credits - https://unsplash.com/s/photos/okra

Nutritional and Health Benefits - 

• Okra is rich in magnesium, fibre, antioxidants and vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin A. They support healthy pregnancy, heart health and check blood sugar.
• They contain antioxidants which reduce risk of serious diseases and prevent inflammation. These antioxidants and vitamin C keeps skin healthy and reduces aging.
• Okra contains a thick gel-like substance called mucilage. These binds the cholesterol and thus helps to reduce cholesterol levels, reducing risk of heart disease. 
• Okra is rich in dietary fibre, which can aid in digestion, regulate bowel movements and helps to control appetite and manage weight.  

Refer below for details -  

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/okra-health-benefits, 

https://www.narayanahealth.org/blog/benefits-of-okra/

Well, coming to day-to-day life, one can grow Okra in their backyard. No, I am not joking.

So, let’s see how is this possible…..

Terrace or backyard gardening is now-a-days very much popular in urban
areas. Generally, steps involved for terrace or backyard gardening are, 

• Suitable containers – Select large containers with depth of 12-18 inches. Check whether the containers have proper drainage system or not, otherwise plants will get damaged if water got logged in container.

• Soil - Use a rich in nutrients soil mix, especially coco peat or organic manure for proper growth of plants.

• Sunlight – These plants need plenty of sunlight so, place them at a location where they will receive at least 5-8 hours of sunlight.

Credits - https://unsplash.com/s/photos/okra

• Planting seeds – One can plant the seed directly to soil or can purchase germinated seeds or seedlings. For seed planting, one should plant them approx. 1 inch deep from soil surface. But one seed per container should be followed.

• Watering – Since, these containers dry out sooner than soil bed, so they need frequent watering to keep plants hydrated. It is better to water plants at root side, in order to avoid growth of fungus at foliage and thus will lead to fungal disease.

• Fertilizing – It is better to use slow-release fertilizer or, a water-soluble fertilizer. If you want you can go organic and can use organic fertilizers like vermicompost. This should be done once plant is grown 5-7 inches and continued through the growing season

• Harvesting – The okra pods are generally ready to harvest in 3 months, and they ae around 2-4 inches long. Harvesting them frequently will promote more pods to develop and grow.   

Credits - https://unsplash.com/s/photos/okra

Thanks for staying with me till the end. 

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