When to sow okra in the north

When is the best time to sow okra?

Okra is an annual herb, also known as okra, okra, coffee okra, hairy eggplant, and hibiscus. Okra is not a plant that can be grown all year round, and it will not produce pods when the temperature is low.

Okra is usually sown from April to June in all parts of the north and south and harvested from July to October; in North China, it is generally sown from mid-to-late April to May. Usually, solar greenhouses and plastic greenhouses are used in cold northern regions to centrally grow seedlings, and then they are transplanted into the field after the late frost in early spring.

Okra sowing method

Land preparation: Okra is a taproot vegetable, so it is best to sow directly. It is also acceptable to grow seedlings. Prepare the land before sowing. Do not plant it continuously with crops of the leguminous or solanaceous families. Apply 5 tons of decomposed manure and 50 kilograms of compound fertilizer per mu, plow and harrow the land to make a flat bed, and then wait for sowing.

Seed soaking: Water the planting bed thoroughly one day before sowing, soak the seeds at room temperature for 24 hours, and let them dry slightly after soaking. You can sow them when there is no moisture on the surface of the seeds.

Sowing: Okra plants are very large, so the sowing density cannot be too small. Generally speaking, the spacing between rows and plants should be 60 cm. If you are worried about poor germination, you can put two seeds in one planting hole. After sowing, cover with soil about 1 cm and cover with mulch to keep warm and moist. The seedlings will emerge in about four or five days.

Management after sowing

Watering: After okra seedlings emerge and before flowering, the main work is tillage and weeding to promote root growth. If it is particularly dry, you can water it lightly.

Fertilization: After okra blooms, it enters a rapid growth period. Keep the soil moist and apply fertilizer along with water. During the flowering and pod stage, nitrogen fertilizer is mainly used, supplemented with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. During the peak pod-setting period, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizers are mainly applied. After each topdressing, inter-tillage is carried out and the soil is properly cultivated to prevent okra from lodging.

Pruning: Okra grows very vigorously and can generally grow to a height of more than two meters. If it grows too vigorously, you can cut off some of the leaves and branches inside the plant.