It is a crop of tropical and sub-tropical regions. The major growing states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. Okra is mainly grown for its green tender nutritive fruits. Dry fruits and skin are useful in paper industry and fiber extraction. Okra is rich source of vitamins, protein, calcium and other minerals.
In himachal Pradesh, okra farming is done in low and intermediate areas. 148 acres of land is used for okra farming from which 1715 tonnes production is taken.
 

Okra can be cultivated in wide range of soil. The ideal soil for okra cultivation is sandy loam to clay loam with rich organic matter and better drainage facility. If proper drainage is available it can grow well in heavy soils. The pH of soil should be 6.0 to 6.5. Do not cultivate crop in alkaline, saline soils also in poor drainage capacity soils.

Pusa Sawani: It is developed by IARI, New Delhi. The variety is suitable for cultivation in summer and rainy season. It is ready to harvest within 50 days. Fruits are dark green and 10-12cm long at time of harvesting. It is susceptible to yellow vein mosaic virus. Gives average yield of 40-56quintal/acre.

Harbhajan: The variety is suitable for summer and rainy season. It has early maturing fruit which is deep green in color and is soft. The variety is resistant to yellow mosaic virus. It gives an average yield of 36-40quintal/acre.

P-8: New variety, medium height plant variety (53-71cm long) and 12-15cm long fruit, approximately 10 fruits per plant, resistant to yellow mosaic virus. It gives an average yield of 42quintal/acre.

Other state varieties:

Pusa Mahakali: Developed by IARI, New Delhi. Its fruits are of light green color.

Parbhani Kranti: Released by MKV, Parbhani. Fruits are medium long and tender with good keeping quality. It is tolerant to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus. Gives average yield of 35-45quintal/acre.

Arka Anamika: Developed by IIHR, Banglore. It is resistant to yellow mosaic virus. It gives average yield of 80quintal/acre.

Arka Abhay: Released by IIHR, Banglore. Fruit is resistant to Yellow Mosaic Virus.

Pusa A 4: Resistant to yellow mosaic virus and aphid. Ready to harvest in 45 days. Gives average yield of 56quintal/acre.

Perkins Long green: Suitable for growing in hilly areas.

Kashi Vibhuti: Gives first harvesting 38-40 days after sowing. Gives average yield of 68-72quintal/acre.

Aruna: Released by KAU. Variety having red color pods. It is resistant to Yellow vein Mosaic virus. Gives average yield of 64quintal/acre.

CO 1: High yielding variety released by TNAU. Variety having red color pods.
 

Plough land and bring soil to fine tilth. After ploughing take leveling operation to make soil level. Apply well decomposed cowdung@40 quintal/acre in soil at the time of last ploughing.

Time of sowing
Low areas: February –March, July
Medium areas: March-June
High areas: April-May

Spacing
For summer sowing keep row to row distance of 45-60cm and plant to plant distance is15cm. In Rainy season, Use row to row spacing of 45cm.

Sowing Depth
Plant seed at depth of 1.5-2 cm.

Method of sowing
For Sowing dibbling method is used. 
 

Seed Rate
Use seed rate of 6-8 kg/acre for summer season sowing and 4-5 kg/acre for rainy season.

Seed Treatment
Seed germination can be enhanced by soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours. Seed treatment with Carbendazim will protect seeds from attack of soil born fungus. For that soak seeds in Carbendazim solution@2gm/Litre of water for 6 hours and dry them in shades. Then immediately complete sowing. For better germination and also to protect crop from soil born disease, treat seeds with Imidacloprid@5gm per 1Kg seed followed by treatment with Trichoderma viride@4gm/kg seeds.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply well decomposed cow dung@40quintal/acre as basal dose. Apply Nitrogen@28kg/acre (urea@63kg/acre), phosphorus@20kg/acre (SSP@125kg/acre) and Potash@36kg/acre (MOP@22kg/acre) before seed sowing.

Apply besalin @1litre/acre before seed sowing or use lasso @1.6litre/acre immediately after sowing.
 

Weeding is done to control the growth of weeds in okra. Earthing up in the rows should be done in rainy season crop. First weeding is done after 20-25 days of sowing and second weeding is done after 40- 45 days of sowing. Pre-emergence application of herbicides for controlling weeds in bhindi is found effective. Fluchloralin 48% @1 liter per acre or Pendimethalin @1litre/acre or Alachlor@1.6Litre/acre.

Pre sowing irrigation should be given in summer season crop to ensure good germination if sufficient moisture is not present in soil. The next irrigation is given after seed germination. Then the field is irrigated after 4 to 5 days in summer and 10 to 12 days in rainy season.

• Pest and their control:
  

Shoot and Fruit borer: The insect larvae bore into the shoots during vegetative growth resulting in drooping of affected shoots. In later stages bored fruits have larvae inside and filled with excreta.

Destroyed infested parts. If pest population is high, spray Spinosad@1ml/Ltr water or Chlorantraniliprole 18.5%SC(Coragen) @7ml/15Ltr of water or Flubendiamide@50ml/acre added in 200Ltr water.

Blister beetle: The beetle feed on pollen, petals and flower buds.
If infestation is observed, collect and destroy adults and take spray of Carbaryl@1gm/Ltr of water or Malathion@400ml/200Ltr of water or Cypermethrin@80ml per 150Ltr of water is effective.

Aphid: Colony of aphids on young leaves and fruits can be seen. Adult and nymphs, both suck the sap thus weaken the plant. In severe infestation, they cause curling and deformation of young leaves. They secrete honey dew like substance and Sooty, black mould is developed on affected parts.
Destroy affected parts as soon as infestation is noticed. Apply Dimethoate 300 ml/150Ltr of water, 20 to 35 days after sowing.repeat again if necessary. If infestation is observed take spray of Thiamethoxam 25WG@5gm/15Ltr of water.

• Disease and their control:
  

Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus: The characteristic symptom of this disease is homogenous interwoven network of yellow veins. Growth of the plant gets affected and they remain stunted. Fruits also give yellow appearance with small size and tough texture. It causes yield losses up to 80-90%. This disease is spread due to white fly and leaf hopper.

Use resistant varieties for cultivation. Remove and destroyed diseased plants away from field. To control white fly take spray of Dimethoate@300ml/200Ltr of water.

Powdery mildew: White powdery growth is observed on young leaves and also on fruits. In severe condition premature defoliation and fruit drop is observed. Fruit quality get deteriorated and they remain small in size.

If infestation is observed in field, take spray of Wet table Sulphur 25gm/10Ltr of water or Dinocap@5ml/10Ltr of water, 4times at 10days interval. Or Tridemorph@5ml or Penconazol@10ml/10Ltr of water for 4 times with 10days interval.

Cercospora leaf spot: Spots of grayish centre and red borders appears on the leaves. In case of severe infestation, defoliation occurs.

To avoid future infection do seed treatment with Thiram. If infestation of disease is observed in field, take spray of Mancozeb@4gm/Ltr or Captan@2gm/Ltr or Carbendazime@2gm per Ltr of water. Or Give two - three foliar spray of Difenoconazole/Hexaconazole@0.5gm/Ltr of water.

Root rot: Infested roots become dark brown in color and plant die in case of severe infestation.

Avoid monocropping and follow crop rotation. Before sowing do seed treatment with Carbendazim@2.5gram per kg of seed. Drench the soil with Carbendazim solution@1gm/Ltr of water.

Wilt: In wilt disease, initially older leaves turn yellow followed by complete wilting of crop. It can attack crop at any stage.

If infestation is observed, Drench with Carbendazim@10gm/10Ltr water around root zone.

The fruits are ready to harvest after 60 to 70 days of sowing. Small and tender fruit should be harvested. The fruits should be harvested in the morning and evenings. Delay in harvesting may make the fruits fibrous and they lose their tenderness and taste.

Okra has short shelf life and cannot be stored for longer time. The okra fruit should be stored at 7-10°C and 90 percent relative humidity to increase the shelf life. For local markets the fruits are filled in jute bags, whereas for distant markets the fruits are packed in perforated paper cartons.