Okra is a popular health food due to its high fiber, vitamin C, and folate content. Okra is also high in antioxidants and is a good source of calcium and potassium. These plants are beautiful so they make an ideal edible landscape plant, too. Some varieties have colorful red leaves and pods. Okra is grown for its edible fruit pods. The fruits are harvested when immature and eaten as a vegetable. Okra can be grown in almost any region, but before adding it to your vegetable garden. Follow carrefully all my tips for growing fantastic okra in your garden!

. History of Okra .

Okra (Hibiscus esculentus), known in many English-speaking countries as ladies' fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family

related to hollyhocks, rose of Sharon and hibiscus

. It is valued for its edible green seed pods.

The fruit or pod, hairy at the base, is a tapering 10-angled capsule, 10–25 cm (4–10 inches) in length (except in the dwarf varieties), that contains numerous oval dark-coloured seeds.

The plant produces flowers with five white to yellow petals which are 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) in diameter.

Okra can grow 1.2–1.8 m (4–6 ft) tall and as an annual plant, survives only one growing season.

Okra can grow 1.2–1.8 m (4–6 ft) tall and as an annual plant, survives only one growing season.

. Okra Varieties .

There are many varieties of okra. These varieties differ in plant size and fruit characteristics. Most varieties produce spineless pods. The most common is the green. Clemson Spineless is the most commonly cultivated American okra variety. This variety is grown so much for commercial okra production. There are also red varieties and other huge varieties which include Cow Horn that grows to be 8 feet tall, with pods up to 10 inches long and dwarf varietirs too.

Early dwarf okra varieties are suitable for small beds and large containers include fast-maturing hybrids such as ‘Annie Oakley II,’ ‘Cajun Delight’ and ‘Baby Bubba.’ These varieties seldom grow more than 4 feet tall, and they start producing pods about 55 days after planting.









Main-season okra varieties include super-productive ‘Clemson Spineless’ and numerous tall heirlooms such as ‘Stewart’s Zeebest’ and ‘Perkins Long Pod,’ which mature about 60 days after planting. These are the good choices if you are growing okra for pickling or freezing.





Red okra varieties produce dramatic orange to burgundy pods, which turn green when cooked. They are not as productive as green-podded varieties, but red okras such as ‘Burgundy,’ ‘Red Velvet’ and ‘Hill Country Red’ make beautiful edible ornamentals.

. Growing Okra Indoors .

The first step for growing okra is to choose a variety of okra suited not only to your climate but also to your kitchen and get the seeds.



From here you can find many different Okra Seeds.

Okra grows best in hot climates, but even if you live in a Northern region, you can grow okra by starting it from seed indoors and transplanting when the weather warms up. It's very easy to grow your own okra plants, and growing your own gives you the freedom to pick and enjoy your own varieties. It also lets you make sure the plants get the best care right from the start. 6 to 4 weeks before the last frost in spring you can start your okra seeds indoors. by starting your seeds indoors and transplanting them when the time is right, they’ll have a head start on growing.



To grow your own okra indoors, you need:



. Sterilized soil or seed starting mix . Small plastic caps that has holes for drainage. If excess water can't drain, your seeds will rot . . A place to take care of the seeds while they're germinating that provides a warm temperature. . Plenty of sunshine or grow lights . Okra seeds



Soak okra seeds in a cup of water overnight or for up to 24 hours before planting to soften the seed coat and help speed germination. Fill the plastic cups with moistened, not wet potting mix or soil. Sow three seeds in each. This ensures at least one good plant per pot. Then firm the seeds into the soil with a flat object. Sprinkle some potting mix over the seeds, by covering them only to a depth of three to four times their own diameter.



Okra seeds are big and can take about an inch of covering. Firm the top of the soil again, so that the seeds come into good contact with the moistened soil to help germination. Germination is in about five days at room temperature. Place all in a spot that is consistently warm but not hot, never put them in a sunny window before they germinate as the sunny window is the worst place to put seeds that are trying to germinate. It's hot during the day and usually cold at night. These temperature extremes don't help the seeds to germinate. After seeds have germinated, promptly give them the best possible growing conditions to ensure stocky, vigorous plants for outdoor planting.





Indoor okra seedlings need the right conditions and environment in order to thrive. As you care for your planted seeds, keep these factors in mind:





. Placing seedlings in front of a window is often sufficient. Rotate the containers to encourage even plant growth.

. Check the seedlings once a day and water as needed.

. Fertilize only as needed typically four to six weeks after sowing, if you are using a nutritive soil mix. But if you are using compost and have sufficient soil in the pot, don’t fertilize.









Wait to fertilize until the plant is actively growing and fertilize at a low rate to avoid burning the plants.





. Transplanting Okra Plants In The Garden .





About 7 days before planting your okra plants outdoors, help acclimate them to temperatures, sunlight, and wind. This is the process of hardening off, or gradually acclimating you new plants to outdoor conditions. These plants have spent their short lives in a warm, sunny, protected place and won't fare well if you don't expose them slowly to the elements. Before you intend to plant, put your transplants outdoors in an area where they'll be protected from the direct sunlight and wind. Leave them out for a few hours and bring them back inside. Repeat this each day, gradually increasing the amount of time they're outside and the degree of exposure to sun and wind. Gradual exposure helps your plants toughen up and reduces the possibility of injury. With proper hardening off, they’ll have an easier transition to the garden and begin producing sooner.