Okra is a tropical vegetable, widely used in Brazilian and South American cuisine in general, but also in Lebanese, Indian and Romanian recipes. The origin of this plant is African, the slave trade then spread also to the Americas. In Brazil it is called Quiabo, in Egypt, on the contrary, bamiya, which is called Okra, ocher, rubber or gombo.
It is a very interesting crop because it can also be grown in Italy and therefore in orchards. If you are looking for something new to plant, you can try planting ocher.
From a botanical point of view, okra is a relative of mallow and hibiscus (Malvaceae family), it is not in vain that its flowers are magnificent, with their white and yellow petals and the center of pomegranate . The interest of this plant, however, is the pod it forms, which is then cooked like a vegetable. It is a vegetable similar to a long green chili, rich in nutritional properties. The plant is very developed, with a stem similar to that of a sunflower and slightly stinging hairs. Let’s look at a short guide to growing okra.
Contents [Ocultar]
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Suitable soil and climate
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How to Plant Okra
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Growing okra in the garden
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Kitchen use and properties of ocher
Contents
Adapted train and climate
Climate. Being a plant of tropical origin, it fears cold and icy climates. It is very important that it be exposed to the sun so that it can ripen.
Usually I. Okra is an undemanding vegetable that can be grown in virtually any soil type. As with most vegetables, it’s best to avoid standing water and choose a sheltered, sunny location. Before planting, standard tillage is sufficient and light fertilization (with humus, mature manure or compost) does not hurt.
How to Plant Okra
Sow . Okra needs warmth to germinate, so it’s best to plant the seeds in a tray and then transplant them into the ground later. Okra can then be sown between February and March in a heated seedbed and transplanted after a few months or sown in the field directly from April. The seed is placed a few centimeters deep.
Sixth of the installation. Okra plants grow a lot, even reaching two meters in height, so it is best to place the plants at least 70 cm apart. You can also plant the closest seeds and then thin out by choosing the most vigorous seedlings.
Where to find the seeds . Being an ethnic and original vegetable in Italy, it is not easy to find seeds, but you start to find them. If you buy non-hybrid seeds, you can save the seeds from year to year and still have okra in your garden. You can find okra seeds online here .
pot culture . Okra can also be grown in the balcony garden, it requires a large pot and a south-facing terrace.
Growing okra in the garden
Cultivation operations. Okra is an easy crop, the plant grows lushly, with a sturdy stem like that of sunflower or Jerusalem artichoke. Therefore, it does not require any type of support. Weeds need to be tended to, but as a tall-stemmed plant, it’s not afraid of competition. Irrigation is useful only in the hottest and driest periods, avoiding giving large amounts of water, it is better to water little and often. Mulch as with almost all crops can be a good idea and save the gardener effort.
Subsidiaries and rotations . Okra is a plant that does not belong to the usual botanical families to which traditional vegetables belong, it does not present major problems of proximity or succession.
Collection. The fruit develops after flowering and should be harvested when the pod is tender, then the fruit swells but becomes leathery and unfit for consumption. Normally, the cultivation cycle of okra reaches its fruits in 75 to 90 days.
Kitchen use and properties of ocher
Use: How to cook okra. Okra can also be eaten raw in salads, but it is a sautéed or steamed vegetable, excellent in ethnic dishes such as couscous, or in a mixture of cooked vegetables. If you don’t have any feeding problems, you can always fry it. Small ocher basins also make delicious pickles. The taste of okra is particular but delicate, some say it reminds me of asparagus, it remotely reminds me of artichokes. Okra is very rich in nutritional properties: many vitamins (A, C, B6), calcium, zinc, potassium and folic acid (very useful for pregnant women).
Variety of okra. Like all vegetables, okra has several varieties, which differ in the length of the crop cycle, size and color of the fruit. Some examples are Hill Country Red Okra, Red Burgundy, Clemson. The latter is perhaps the most suitable cultivar for our climate.