1. Choosing a Location and Container
- Sunlight: Lady’s finger thrives in full sun, needing at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The hotter, the better for good production.
- Soil: It prefers rich, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). Amend your soil with plenty of organic matter like compost or aged manure to enrich it.
- Container (if applicable): If you’re growing in containers, choose large ones, at least 5-10 gallons, or 12-15 inches deep and wide, to accommodate its deep root system. Ensure good drainage holes. Dwarf or compact varieties like ‘Baby Bubba’ or ‘Jambalaya’ are excellent for containers.
2. Planting
- When to Plant:
- Warm Climates (like Bangladesh): You can directly sow seeds outdoors in early spring after the last frost, when night temperatures consistently stay above 55°F (13°C).
- Shorter Summers: Start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before the last expected frost. Use peat pots to avoid disturbing the fragile taproots during transplanting.
- In Bangladesh, lady’s finger is typically grown in the Kharif (June-August) and Zaid (January-March) seasons.
- Seed Preparation: Soak seeds in warm water for a few hours or overnight before planting to speed up germination.
- Sowing Seeds:
- Direct Sowing: Plant seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep and 7-8 inches apart. If planting in rows, space rows 3-4 feet apart.
- Transplanting: If starting indoors, carefully transplant seedlings when they have 4 or more leaves and are 4-6 inches tall. Space them 1-2 feet apart. Dig holes deep enough to hold the entire root ball.
3. Care and Maintenance
- Watering: Lady’s finger needs consistent moisture, especially during flowering and fruiting. Water deeply every morning, aiming for about 1 inch of water per week. In hot, arid conditions, you may need to water more often. Avoid getting water on the leaves during hot sun to prevent burning.
- Thinning: If you direct-sowed seeds, thin out weaker seedlings when they are about 3 inches tall, leaving the strongest ones spaced 1 to 2 feet apart. It’s best to cut the unwanted seedlings at ground level to avoid disturbing the roots of the remaining plants.
- Fertilizing:
- Before planting, mix in compost or a balanced fertilizer (like 10-10-10).
- Once flowering begins, feed regularly with a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium to encourage more fruit production. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes leafy growth at the expense of pods.
- Weeding: Keep the area around your okra plants free of weeds, especially when they are young. Mulching with a thick layer of compost or well-rotted manure (4-8 inches) can help suppress weeds and retain soil moisture.
- Pruning: In mild climates with long summers, you can prune the tops of okra plants when they reach 5-6 feet tall to encourage more side branches and a second crop. Remove dead leaves and stems regularly to improve ventilation and light penetration.
