Okra
Abelmoschus esculentus
- Native to:
- Bangladesh, India
ADARSHluck
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Genus:
- Abelmoschus
- Species:
- Abelmoschus esculentus
- USDA Symbol:
- ABES
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, cream
Host Plant for Caterpillars
corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Cotton looper (Anomis flava), cotton tipworm (Crocidosema plebejana), Orange-tipped oakworm moth (Anisota senatoria), Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella), Platynota nigrocervina, rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica), Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), Soybean Looper (Pseudoplusia includens), Tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens), Yellow scallop moth (Anomis erosa)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.8 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to tropical and subtropical regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Scarification or soaking seeds 12-24 hours improves germination. Requires warm soil temperatures above 70°F (21°C) for reliable germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI