Okra — Package of Practices
A fast, warm-season pod crop that crops heavily with frequent picking — leave the pods a day too long and they turn fibrous.
Overview
Okra (bhendi or lady's finger) is a quick Malvaceae crop grown for its tender pods. It germinates and grows fast in warm weather, starts bearing in about six to eight weeks, and needs frequent picking to keep pods tender and plants productive.
Its main problems are the shoot-and-fruit borer and yellow vein mosaic virus, which is spread by whitefly — so controlling whitefly early is central to a good crop.
Climate & season
Okra needs warmth — about 25–35 °C — for quick germination and growth. It is frost-sensitive and is grown in both the rainy and summer seasons.
- Sow when the soil is warm; cold soil gives poor germination.
- Rainy-season and summer crops are both common.
- Steady warmth and moisture give a long, heavy podding period.
Soil & land preparation
A well-drained loam rich in organic matter suits okra, at a pH of about 6–6.8. Avoid waterlogging.
- Plough to a fine tilth and remove weeds and residues.
- Incorporate 25 t/ha of farmyard manure at land preparation.
- Ensure good drainage, especially for the rainy-season crop.
- Choose a warm spell so the seed germinates quickly and evenly.
Choosing a type & seed
Choose a type with tolerance to yellow vein mosaic virus, tender spineless pods and good green colour. Hybrids give higher, more uniform yields; open-pollinated types let you keep seed. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- 8–10 kg/ha (use a little more for the rainy crop).
- Soak seed for about a day, or prime briefly, to speed germination.
- Treat seed with Trichoderma against seedling rots.
Seed treatment
- Soak or sand-prime the seed, then treat with Trichoderma viride.
- Okra is not a legume — no rhizobium is needed.
Sowing & spacing
- Direct-sow 1–2 seeds per hill, 1–2 cm deep, into moist warm soil.
- Spacing: 60 × 30 cm for the rainy/branching crop; 45 × 30 cm for a summer crop.
- Thin to one strong seedling per hill after germination.
- Earth-up the rows in the rainy season to support the plants.
Nutrient management
The figures below follow a standard recommendation for bhendi (okra), rewritten as plain steps. Fine-tune to your soil test and local advisory.
Apply as basal (at land preparation)
- Farmyard manure 25 t/ha, worked in before the last ploughing.
- N–P–K 40 : 50 : 30 kg/ha as a basal dose.
Top-dress nitrogen
- 10 kg N/ha at first flowering.
- 10 kg N/ha about 10 days after flowering.
For hybrids, a foliar spray of water-soluble 19:19:19 at 0.5% (5 g/litre) three times at 10-day intervals from about 30 days after planting gives a useful boost.
Irrigation
- Give a light irrigation right after sowing to start germination.
- In summer, irrigate about twice a week; in the rains, only as needed.
- Flowering and podding are the critical stages — keep moisture even.
- Avoid waterlogging, which stunts the crop.
Weeds & special care
- First weeding 20–25 days after sowing; second 40–45 days.
- Earth-up the rows in the rainy season.
- A pre-emergence herbicide (e.g. fluchloralin or pendimethalin) is an option — follow the label.
- Keep early growth weed-free so the crop establishes fast.
Plant protection
Work the IPM way — clean fields, traps, weekly scouting and need-based sprays. Controlling whitefly early is the key to keeping yellow vein mosaic out.
Major pests
| Pest | Damage | Manage with |
|---|---|---|
| Shoot & fruit borer (Earias) | Bores into shoots (they droop) and into pods, leaving frass | Clip and destroy bored shoots/pods, pheromone traps, neem; need-based spinosad / chlorantraniliprole use sparingly |
| Whitefly | Sucks sap and spreads yellow vein mosaic virus | Yellow sticky traps, neem oil, rogue out infected plants early |
| Jassids & aphids | Suck sap; leaf edges yellow and curl (hopper-burn) | Neem, conserve natural enemies, spot-spray only if severe |
| Red spider mite | Fine webbing and bronzing in hot, dry weather | Maintain moisture, wettable sulphur or a recommended miticide |
| Root-knot nematode | Galled roots, stunting | Neem cake in the furrow, rotation, resistant types |
Major diseases
| Disease | Signs | Manage with |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow vein mosaic virus | Bright yellow vein-network on leaves; small, pale, hard pods | Control whitefly, rogue infected plants early, grow tolerant types |
| Powdery mildew | White powdery patches on older leaves | Sulphur or a recommended fungicide; good airflow |
| Damping-off / seedling rot | Seedlings rot at the base and collapse | Treated seed, good drainage, avoid overwatering |
| Cercospora leaf spot | Grey-brown leaf spots, early leaf fall | Remove debris, recommended fungicide if severe |
Use chemicals safely
The products above are examples, not a prescription. Doses, approved crops and pre-harvest intervals differ by country and change over time. Always read the label, wear protective gear, use the correct dose, observe the waiting period before harvest, protect bees, and confirm with your local agriculture officer.
Harvest & yield
- First picking comes about 45–60 days after sowing.
- Pick tender pods (about 6–8 cm) every 2–3 days, in the morning or evening.
- Over-mature pods turn fibrous — frequent picking keeps the plant productive.
- Typical yield: 10–15 t/ha (rainy crop higher than summer).
Post-harvest handling
- Okra has a short shelf life — cool it quickly after harvest.
- Store around 7–10 °C with high humidity to hold tenderness.
- Pack in perforated cartons for distant markets, jute bags for local sale.
- Handle gently; bruised pods darken and lose value fast.
Field tips that pay off
- Pick every 2–3 days — the single biggest driver of yield and quality.
- Knock back whitefly early to keep yellow vein mosaic out of the crop.
- Don't let pods over-mature; fibrous pods waste the plant's energy.
- Wear sleeves when picking — the pods and stems can irritate skin.
Related crops
Okra — Package of Practices
A fast, warm-season pod crop that crops heavily with frequent picking — leave the pods a day too long and they turn fibrous.
Overview
Okra (bhendi or lady's finger) is a quick Malvaceae crop grown for its tender pods. It germinates and grows fast in warm weather, starts bearing in about six to eight weeks, and needs frequent picking to keep pods tender and plants productive.
Its main problems are the shoot-and-fruit borer and yellow vein mosaic virus, which is spread by whitefly — so controlling whitefly early is central to a good crop.
Climate & season
Okra needs warmth — about 25–35 °C — for quick germination and growth. It is frost-sensitive and is grown in both the rainy and summer seasons.
- Sow when the soil is warm; cold soil gives poor germination.
- Rainy-season and summer crops are both common.
- Steady warmth and moisture give a long, heavy podding period.
Soil & land preparation
A well-drained loam rich in organic matter suits okra, at a pH of about 6–6.8. Avoid waterlogging.
- Plough to a fine tilth and remove weeds and residues.
- Incorporate 25 t/ha of farmyard manure at land preparation.
- Ensure good drainage, especially for the rainy-season crop.
- Choose a warm spell so the seed germinates quickly and evenly.
Choosing a type & seed
Choose a type with tolerance to yellow vein mosaic virus, tender spineless pods and good green colour. Hybrids give higher, more uniform yields; open-pollinated types let you keep seed. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- 8–10 kg/ha (use a little more for the rainy crop).
- Soak seed for about a day, or prime briefly, to speed germination.
- Treat seed with Trichoderma against seedling rots.
Seed treatment
- Soak or sand-prime the seed, then treat with Trichoderma viride.
- Okra is not a legume — no rhizobium is needed.
Sowing & spacing
- Direct-sow 1–2 seeds per hill, 1–2 cm deep, into moist warm soil.
- Spacing: 60 × 30 cm for the rainy/branching crop; 45 × 30 cm for a summer crop.
- Thin to one strong seedling per hill after germination.
- Earth-up the rows in the rainy season to support the plants.
Nutrient management
The figures below follow a standard recommendation for bhendi (okra), rewritten as plain steps. Fine-tune to your soil test and local advisory.
Apply as basal (at land preparation)
- Farmyard manure 25 t/ha, worked in before the last ploughing.
- N–P–K 40 : 50 : 30 kg/ha as a basal dose.
Top-dress nitrogen
- 10 kg N/ha at first flowering.
- 10 kg N/ha about 10 days after flowering.
For hybrids, a foliar spray of water-soluble 19:19:19 at 0.5% (5 g/litre) three times at 10-day intervals from about 30 days after planting gives a useful boost.
Irrigation
- Give a light irrigation right after sowing to start germination.
- In summer, irrigate about twice a week; in the rains, only as needed.
- Flowering and podding are the critical stages — keep moisture even.
- Avoid waterlogging, which stunts the crop.
Weeds & special care
- First weeding 20–25 days after sowing; second 40–45 days.
- Earth-up the rows in the rainy season.
- A pre-emergence herbicide (e.g. fluchloralin or pendimethalin) is an option — follow the label.
- Keep early growth weed-free so the crop establishes fast.
Plant protection
Work the IPM way — clean fields, traps, weekly scouting and need-based sprays. Controlling whitefly early is the key to keeping yellow vein mosaic out.
Major pests
| Pest | Damage | Manage with |
|---|---|---|
| Shoot & fruit borer (Earias) | Bores into shoots (they droop) and into pods, leaving frass | Clip and destroy bored shoots/pods, pheromone traps, neem; need-based spinosad / chlorantraniliprole use sparingly |
| Whitefly | Sucks sap and spreads yellow vein mosaic virus | Yellow sticky traps, neem oil, rogue out infected plants early |
| Jassids & aphids | Suck sap; leaf edges yellow and curl (hopper-burn) | Neem, conserve natural enemies, spot-spray only if severe |
| Red spider mite | Fine webbing and bronzing in hot, dry weather | Maintain moisture, wettable sulphur or a recommended miticide |
| Root-knot nematode | Galled roots, stunting | Neem cake in the furrow, rotation, resistant types |
Major diseases
| Disease | Signs | Manage with |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow vein mosaic virus | Bright yellow vein-network on leaves; small, pale, hard pods | Control whitefly, rogue infected plants early, grow tolerant types |
| Powdery mildew | White powdery patches on older leaves | Sulphur or a recommended fungicide; good airflow |
| Damping-off / seedling rot | Seedlings rot at the base and collapse | Treated seed, good drainage, avoid overwatering |
| Cercospora leaf spot | Grey-brown leaf spots, early leaf fall | Remove debris, recommended fungicide if severe |
Use chemicals safely
The products above are examples, not a prescription. Doses, approved crops and pre-harvest intervals differ by country and change over time. Always read the label, wear protective gear, use the correct dose, observe the waiting period before harvest, protect bees, and confirm with your local agriculture officer.
Harvest & yield
- First picking comes about 45–60 days after sowing.
- Pick tender pods (about 6–8 cm) every 2–3 days, in the morning or evening.
- Over-mature pods turn fibrous — frequent picking keeps the plant productive.
- Typical yield: 10–15 t/ha (rainy crop higher than summer).
Post-harvest handling
- Okra has a short shelf life — cool it quickly after harvest.
- Store around 7–10 °C with high humidity to hold tenderness.
- Pack in perforated cartons for distant markets, jute bags for local sale.
- Handle gently; bruised pods darken and lose value fast.
Field tips that pay off
- Pick every 2–3 days — the single biggest driver of yield and quality.
- Knock back whitefly early to keep yellow vein mosaic out of the crop.
- Don't let pods over-mature; fibrous pods waste the plant's energy.
- Wear sleeves when picking — the pods and stems can irritate skin.