How to Plant Lady's Finger
Lady's finger is an edible plant that in the United States is more commonly known as okra. Reputed to be indigenous to Western Africa, lady's finger plants are herbaceous annual growing plants that are most famous for their use in creating seafood gumbo, but they are also used in making stews and soups. Considered a warm-weather loving crop, lady's finger plants are typically ready to harvest in as few as 60 days after planting. You can start the plants indoors about six to eight weeks before you plan to move them outdoors. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Okra seeds
- Peat pots
- Seed-raising mix
- Spray bottle
- Chopstick, pen or pencil
- Trowel
- Shovel
- Fertilizer
Instructions
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Planting Okra Seeds
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1
Scoop a good quality seed-raising planting mix into 3- or 4-inch-wide biodegradable peat pots. Okra plants do not like their roots disturbed. Using peat pots prevents any root disturbance.
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2
Mist the seed-raising mix with water until it's saturated with moisture. Let the pots drain some before proceeding.
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3
Place the seeds into a shallow bowl. Pour approximately 1 inch of water over the seeds. Soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting, as suggested by Floridata.com. Soaking the seeds will speed up the germination.
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4
Poke two 1-inch-deep holes in each of the biodegradable peat pots. You can use a chopstick, a pencil or a pen to make the holes.
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5
Drop in one seed into each 1-inch deep hole. Sprinkle a 1-inch layer of seed-raising mix over each of the seeds.
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6
Set the pots in a warm and light-filled location but not where they will be subjected to direct sunlight. Near a south- or west-facing window is ideal. Keep the seed-raising mix leaning toward the moist side but never waterlogged. Germination can begin in as few as seven days at a temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
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7
Thin the plants to one per pot once seed emerge. Cut off the least hardy seedling, leaving the stronger of the two remaining.
Transplanting Okra Seedlings
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8
Locate a warm, sun-filled area for planting the seedlings.
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9
Cultivate the soil to make it loose and well-aerated. You can use a shovel or a rototiller if you have one. The soil should be well worked to a depth of about 12 to 14 inches.
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10
Incorporate into the soil in the planting area between 1/2 and 1 lb. all-purpose granular fertilizer such as 12-12-12 for every 50 square feet of area you are going to plant.
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11
Create rows in the planting area that are about 3 feet wide and approximately 2 feet apart. In the center of each row, dig holes using a trowel that will accommodate both the width and depth of each biodegradable peat pot. Measure the distance from each hole making sure to allow 12 to16 inches between pots.
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12
Plant one seedling into each of the planting holes. Use the trowel to push in soil around each seedling tamping it down as you proceed.
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13
Water each plant thoroughly with water. Keep the plants well watered, but never water so often that the plants are subjected to flooding. Provide approximately 1 inch of water weekly if there is no rainfall.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Once the plants begin to blossom, give them a final application of fertilizer. Spread about 1 tbsp. of 12-12-12 fertilizer around each plant.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit okra image by cherie from Fotolia.com
