#OKRA PLANT IMAGES FREE#

An appropriate crop rotation should be followed and okra, eggplant and tomatoes should not be planted in the same field more than once every four years, to prevent build-up of disease pathogens. Other diseases include powdery mildew in dry tropical regions and leaf spots. The most common disease affecting the okra plant is verticillium wilt, often causing a yellowing and wilting of the leaves. Few herbicides are registered for use on okra and relevant advice should be sought from local departments of agriculture. Good weed control should be undertaken before planting okra, and a green manure crop may aid in this purpose as well as provide nutrients for the okra crop.

The most effective form of irrigation to use with plastic mulch is drip irrigation.įor more general information on growing vegetables in the semi-arid tropics of the Northern Territory refer to the Northern Territory Vegetable Growers Guide. Okra yields can be increased through the use of mulch the most successful being a combination of a green manure crop and plastic mulch. Side dressing during crop growth should also be considered. Other fertilisers used include MKP (a soluble fertiliser containing potassium and phosphorous), calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate. For example, in the Northern Territory, growers fertigate with soluble NPK, a fertiliser containing nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, as well as trace elements throughout the growing season. Okra plants are susceptible to wind damage and it may be necessary to establish windbreaks every 50 metres.Īn appropriate fertiliser or nutrition program should be followed to match anticipated yields. In the Northern Territory okra is usually planted from April to June. Okra is best planted when soil temperatures are 20–35☌.

#OKRA PLANT IMAGES FREE#

Growing sites for okra should be clean and free from sticks, and the soil should be well drained. The most popular varieties are Clemson Spineless and dark green. Okra seed, both hybrid and open pollinated, is available from commercial seed suppliers. Low levels of rainfall and humidity are preferable for seed production. The plant is tolerant to water stress but yields will be reduced, particularly if stress occurs during flowering or pod filling stages. Day neutral cultivars will continue flowering from flower initiation until the first frost. Most cultivars need a short day length to initiate flowering, but there are long day and day neutral cultivars. Tropical and warm temperate climates are suitable for okra production. Optimum temperature for germination is 35☌, but will still occur at 15☌. Okra can be grown in many types of soil but is best suited to irrigated, well-drained, sandy loam soil, and a pH of 6.0–6.8 (water). Most okra produced in Australia was grown in the Northern Territory with some production in south eastern Queensland during the Northern Territory wet season. In the Northern Territory, Asian vegetables, including okra, are also represented by the Northern Territory Farmers Association and the Northern Territory Vietnamese Horticultural Association (NTVFA). The okra industry in Australia is classified as an emerging industry and is covered by the industry association AUSVEG. World okra production is 8.9 million tonnes and in the same period Australia averages 2,000 tonnes, mainly in the Northern Territory. The harvesting of okra is very labour intensive as the product needs to be handled with care because it can bruise and blacken easily. Okra is usually grown under drip or furrow irrigation and mulch may be used to improve water use. The fruit is high in mucilage and it can be used as a food thickener. It is usually consumed whole or sliced, and steamed or stir-fried. Okra is a healthy food being high in fibre, vitamin C and folate it is also high in antioxidants. The fruit is a capsule up to 18cm long, containing numerous seeds. The plant has white to yellow flowers and long, lobed leaves. The species is cultivated as a short season, summer (or dry season) annual, growing to two metres tall.

Okra plant images