How to grow okra in South Africa
Okra (Hibiscus esculentus) is valued for its edible green seed pods. It is rarely eaten as is, except when fried with a meal; a small quantity is usually cooked with other vegetables or added to soups and stews.
Okra grows best in well-drained, sandy loam soils. A poorly drained soil may cause the plant to drown. Okra is highly sensitive to soils with a hardpan: soil compaction can severely restrict plant growth.
The optimal soil temperature for growth is 24°C to 32°C, and the minimum soil temperature is 18°C. Damping off (seed rot) and seed decay are likely to occur at a soil temperature below 21°C.
PREPARATION
Turn the soil after the harvest in autumn and early spring. This will expose overwintering insects to frost, killing them, and bring weed seeds to the surface to germinate. The weed seedlings
