The ladyfinger vegetable goes by multiple names – bhindi, okra, and more. These vegetables are known to provide extensive health benefits. One can prepare curries, salads, and soups from lady-finger plant leaves. Moreover, it is also easy to grow, and given the extensive benefits of lady's finger vegetables, it is one of the top vegetables to grow in your home garden.
Growing lady finger plant using seeds
The lady finger plant requires ample sunlight and can be grown on terraces, patios, or gardens, receiving sunlight for 5 to 6 hours a day. One must start by sourcing high-quality lady finger seeds from a reputed plant nursery like Ratanshi Agro-Hortitech. You can also order the organic seeds available online on their website. It is essential to note that the best time to grow this plant is during monsoon months.
Seed selection
You can start by soaking the lady finger seeds overnight to expedite the germination. Sow the seeds in a potting mix consisting of cocopeat, allowing the seeds to sprout. Ensure you sow the seeds one to two inches deep in the soil in small trays essential for growing seedlings. A great way to ensure quick germination can be to cover the tray with a plastic cover. Also, ensure the tray has tiny holes allowing the air to pass through. Place the container in a humid or warm spot to ensure successful germination.
Lady finger seeds require one to two weeks for their germination. The plant can be grown throughout the year. It is essential to allow the lady finger saplings to grow at least two to three inches before transplanting them into grower pots.
Soil preparation and pot selection
Okra requires grower pots that are ten inches deeper and wider. It is advisable to put one plant in each pot. You can grow the seeds in grower pots after transplanting and prepare the soil using coco peat, pot mix, and manure. Ensure the container has ample holes at the bottom to allow water to drain. Sow the seeds one inch deeper in the soil and ensure they are well-spaced from each other. Cover the seeds with soil lightly and water them ensuring the soil remains moist.
Watering requirements
Lady Finger does not require a lot of water as it requires hot weather. Experts at the plant nursery Ratanshi Agro-Hortitech recommend using a high-quality pot mix that can retain water.
Also, ensure the soil remains moist and only water the plant when the soil is dry. As a rule of thumb, water the plants once every three days during summer and only when the soil is dry during rainy and winter seasons.
Note: It is vital to know lady finger plants die mainly because of overwatering. Hence, always check the soil moisture before you water it.
Harvesting your lady finger plant
The lady finger plant is ready to harvest after 50 to 60 days. One can check the okra color and the length (three to four inches), ensuring it's ready for harvest. Okra plant gives at least 15 to 20 fruits and continues to grow. If it grows tall, support the plant or allow it to take support of a balcony, wall, or railing.
While the plant grows, ensure ample water supply, add compost to the potting mix, and fertilizer if essential. One can also use neem oil if you see any pests and diseases, as these plants are prone to Aphids, mealybugs, leafminers, etc. You can use neem oil or natural pesticides available at a plant nursery in Mumbai. If you want to use neem oil, dilute it with water and spray it on the plants.
Final thoughts
The extensive lady's finger health benefits make it one of the best plants to grow at home. If you want to enjoy the lady finger plant benefits with a farm-to-table experience, opt for lady finger seeds available at the plant nurseries in Mumbai, like Ratanshi Agro-Hortitech. The plant nursery in Byculla, Mumbai, offers gardening supplies ranging from gardening tools, pot mixes, and fertilizers to live plants. The nursery also has an online website. For more information, visit their website today!
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