Okra, also known as Lady’s Fingers, are wonderfully versatile and tasty vegetables. They are eaten par-boiled, fried, roasted or added to stews, soups and curries. Okra plants are not only useful for their edible pods, but they also make wonderful ornamentals that are easy to grow.

Botanical name: Abelmoschus esculentus

Height: 4-6 ft / 1.2-1.8 m

Spacing: 20-24 in / 50-60 cm

Bloom time: Mid spring to early fall.

Foliage: Velvety, fuzzy textured.

Soil: Well drained soils that are rich in organic fertiliser.

Sun: Full sun.

Water: Low to average water needs. Keep moist but not wet and allow to dry slightly between watering. If in doubt, wait a week (if in ground) or 2 days (if in pots) before watering as okra can tolerate drought, but not wet conditions.

When to plant: Late winter if sowed indoors. Early spring to summer if sown outdoors. Sow seeds after last frosts.

How to plant: Sow seeds ½ inch / 1 cm into seed raising mix and keep moist. The seeds should germinate in 10 to 14 days. When the seedlings have produced 2 to 4 true leaves or is 4-6 in / 10-15 cm tall, plant out into the garden or to 12 in / 30 cm pots.

Suggested soil: Potting mix with added organic material such as compost and slow release, complete fertiliser.

Fertilising: Apply water soluble fertiliser designed for vegetables every 2 weeks once flowers appear.

Seed collecting: Allow pods to dry on the plant then break open to collect seeds.

Pests & Diseases: Pests include silverleaf whitefly, heliothis, rough bollworm, looper caterpillars, green vegetable bugs, aphids and mites. Diseases include verticillium wilt, powdery mildew, fungal leaf spot and root-knot nematode.

Tips:

• Avoid handling plants with bare hands as it can cause skin irritations or an allergic reaction.
• Harvest okra pods about 5 days after flowers have opened to avoid fibrous pods. Pods are best harvested when they’re 3 in / 7.5 cm long.
• Harvest pods every 1-2 days as pods left on the plant to mature will reduce flowering and fruit set.
• Five to six plants will produce enough okra for a small family.
• Mulch the base of the plant to reduce moisture loss.
• Okra seeds can be used as a coffee substitute. Simply grind up roasted seeds.
• Try using dried okra pods in floral arrangements for something different.