Are lady Fingers self pollinating?
FLOWER BUDS & POLLINATION
The flower buds of lady's finger starts to appear in the 3rd to 4th week after germination. The buds blooms so beautifully. Okra flowers are half-white or pale yellow with reddish core, so attractive. These okra flowers are “self – pollinating” and we need not pollinate manually.
Lady's finger plants are mainly propagated from seeds in the pots. Lady's finger plant grows well in full sun and thrives well in a temperature range of 25 to 35 degrees. Seeds take 5 to 6 days to germinate, vegetable takes 55 to 65 days to mature.
Application of manures and fertilizers in Ladies Finger Farming: In order to maximize the yield about 30 t of FYM (Field Yard Manure), 350 kg Superphosphate, 125 kg Murate of Potash and 300 kg Ammonium sulfate should be applied in the rows before sowing for one hectare of land.
Lady finger is an important vegetable crop of India. It is grown in kharif (June-August) and Zaid (January-March) season. It is grown in tropical and sub-tropical region.
Self-pollinating plants, like okra, produce flowers that contain both male and female parts and are fertilized by their own pollen. This means they do not require wind or insects to pollinate properly. Other self-pollinating garden vegetables include lettuce, peas, lima beans and bush and pole beans.
HOW TO HAND POLLINATE OKRA | GARDEN TIP - YouTube
The seed of lady finger plant disperse by Explosive Mechanism. The seed inside the ladies finger bursts out from the vegetable when the vegetable becomes excessively ripe and opens up. The seeds which fell on the soil (under proper environmental requirements) start to grow into saplings and then to full-grown plants.
For okra seed harvesting, the seed pods must dry on the vine and beginning to crack or split. At that point, you can remove the pods and split or twist them. The seeds will come out easily, so keep a bowl nearby. Since no fleshy vegetable matter clings to the seeds, you don't need to wash them.
Okra Seeds - (also known as gumbo, ladyfinger, bhindi, ochro, ladies' fingers) - AllThatGrows gets to you a variety of non-hybrid, heirloom and GMO free seeds. The summer staple, Okra is everyone's favourite and eaten very fondly.
It is sown on flat soil or on ridges. Sowing should be done on ridges if the soil is heavy. Neem cake and poultry manures helps in improving the growth of plant and the yield in this crop. By using neem cake and poultry manures or other compost it is possible to reduce the use of fertilizer.
Does Lady Finger plant need sunlight?
Sunlight: ladyfinger plants require full sunlight. Therefore your raised bed should be made at a bright sunny spot. Keep the container under open sunlight. Watering: Water your potted Okra plant every day in summer & every alternate day in winter.
The average okra plant lifespan is about 120 days.
Okra loves the heat and can withstand a dry spell, but do your best to give plants 1 inch of water every week. Harvest okra pods when they are 2 to 4 inches long.
Use fresh seed soaked overnight or nick each seed coat with a file to encourage germination. Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep in light soil and 1 inch deep in heavy soil; spacing is 3 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. Thin seedlings to 18 to 24 inches apart, always choosing the strongest of the young plants.
Okra thrives in the full, hot sun. Regular watering is needed and is particularly critical during flowering and pod development. During extended dry spells, a weekly deep soaking is beneficial. Crop rotation and good soil management help control diseases.
Tip: Since the ladies' finger is not eaten raw, the best way to have it is to lightly sauté it, and add the spices you like.
It is also known as okra or gumbo. It is often used as an ingredient in Indian and Pakistani cuisine. The entire plant is edible and its leaves are usually eaten raw in salads.
It is packed with folate, niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. Other than these, it is also rich in calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous and zinc. Bhindi contains no cholesterol of its own and in fact contains a component called pectin which helps in lowering bad cholesterol.
Ladyfinger, popularly known as bhindi in India, is rich in nutrients. It is considered a good source of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, enzymes, calcium, potassium and many other nutrients. The botanical name of ladyfinger is Abelmoschus esculentus, and it belongs to the family Malvaceae.
