How to grow an exotic vegetable okra. We share our experience, talk about the best varieties and intricacies of plant care

I started growing okra three years ago. Our whole family fell in love with this exotic, delicious and healthy vegetable.

Okra can be grown both in the greenhouse and in the open field. Its fruits are green, oblong - from 5cm to 12cm in size with a slight sweetish aftertaste. The chemical composition of okra will pleasantly surprise any gourmet or connoisseur of natural plant foods.

Okra is a crop that is actively consumed along with cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes in many countries where there are no frosty winters. And for a year she is planted there repeatedly.

What sort of okra is best to start with in order to have this healthy vegetable in your garden, which, first of all, is a phytodoctor for the whole family, and then - a delicious product.

Gombo, okra, abelmos or okra - one and the same name of a plant from the malvaceous family. The plant blooms very beautifully, and after a few days the ovary appears. The crop can be harvested in 3-5 days, but make sure that the pod does not become woody!

In Russia, you can also grow 2 crops, but with the help of greenhouses. Despite the noticeable climate change in our lands, okra is becoming more popular. It is rich in vitamins, plant fibers, folic acid (therefore recommended for pregnant women), microelements important for the human body. In some countries, they use okra flowers in batter or decorate salads with them. Leaves can also be added to salad. But, if you do not have so many okra bushes, then it is better not to pick these greens or flowers, but wait for the fruits.

The pods are predominantly green in color, there are also yellow, dark green, red tints. In shape, they are elongated-conical with clearly defined edges. The number of these faces depends on the variety. Fruits also happen, like drops or nuts, but again with side edges.

During the drying period, the fruits open up to scatter seeds around.

We are growing the variety "Svirel" . This is the most famous variety today, you can buy it in online stores, from farmers. So far we consider "Svirel" the most interesting for gardeners. It withstands cool May (but not frost!), Does not have extensive leaves, the stem grows in favorable conditions up to 1.3-1.7 m throughout the warm season.

Okra successfully withstands the heat, but at this time, abundant watering will be required. The pods are elongated, the edges are straight, tapering to the tip. Fruits can reach 15 cm. As a rule, bushes with a strong stem and healthy leaves and fruits grow larger. But even those plants that did not receive enough moisture or nutrients will delight you with a harvest, but much less in size and quantity.