1) Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a rich source of nutrients and thrives in hot, humid climates between 25-30°C. It grows best in loose, well-draining loamy soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8. 2) Varieties recommended for Jammu conditions include Jammu Okra-05, Pusa Sawani, Pusa A-4, Arka Anamika, Varsha Uphar, and Hisar Unnat. 3) Pests that affect okra include jassids, aphids, shoot and fruit borers, red cotton bugs, and whiteflies. Diseases include

1. PoP Vegetable Crops SKUAST-Jammu 2020
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O
Bhindi/Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus
Moench)
kra is an important annual vegetable crop in tropical and subtropical parts
of the world. It is mainly used for its tender green fruits as vegetable. It is a
rich source of iodine, calcium, sulfur and sodium. Its tender fruits also contains
vitamin-A, C, thiamine and riboflavin. Besides it also has dietary fibres, proteins
and carbohydrates.
Climate and Soil
It is basically a hot weather crop and thrives well during hot and humid
climatic condition. It can be successfully grown under the temperature ranging
between 25-30�C. It is susceptible to draught, frost and low night temperature.
Day temperature more than 42�C causes flower drop. Optimum temperature
range for seed germination is 25-35�C and seed do not germinate below 17�C.
Adequate sun shine is very important for growth and yield of the crop. It can be
grown in wide range of soil, sandy to clay loam with enough organic matter and
having good drainage facility however, loose, friable, well manured loamy soils
with a pH range of 6.0-6.8 are best for its cultivation. Water logging is harmful
for the crop.
Varieties
Jammu Okra-05: The variety is developed by SKUAST-Jammu during
2017.The variety is medium in height (80-90cm) with small intermodal distance.
Fruits are dark green having 5 ridges, 8-12cm long. Plants bear 25-30 fruits with
average fruit weight of 10-15g. The variety shows field resistant against YVMV
and fruit borer and recommended for sowing under spring-summer and rainy
season under Jammu conditions. Average yield is 48-60q/ acre.
Pusa Sawani: Fruits are smooth with 5 ridges, dark green and 18-20 cm long
when fully developed. It is distinguished by the presence of a purple patch at the
base of the yellow petal on both the sides. It is suitable for cultivation in spring -
summer season in plains. Average yield is 60-70q / acre.
Pusa A-4: Fruits are smooth, dark green and 12-15 cm. long when fully
developed. It is tolerant to YVM and aphids. First picking starts in 45 days.
Average yield is 56q/ acre.
Arka Anamika: Fruits are lush dark green, tender and long, free from spines,
having 5-6 ridges with delicate aroma. Possesses good keeping and cooking
qualities. Field tolerant to YVMV. Average yield is 80q/ acre.
Varsha Uphar: Plants are medium tall, suitable for rainy season cultivation,
fruiting starts on third/fourth node, resistant to YVMV. Average yield is 36-40q/
acre.

2. PoP Vegetable Crops SKUAST-Jammu 2020
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Hisar Unnat: Suitable for rainy season cultivation, fruiting starts on third/fourth
node, resistant to YVMV. Average yield is 40-44q/ acre.
Hisar Naveen: Suitable for rainy season cultivation, high yielding variety,
tolerant to YVMV. Average yield is 44-48q/ acre.
Sowing
Zone Sowing time
Sub-tropical February- March (Spring-summer crop)
June - July (Rainy season crop)
Intermediate (low) March - May
Intermediate (high) April - May
Seed sowing
Soak the seed overnight in water for better germination. Soaking the seed in
0.3% copper oxychloride overnight protect the seedlings from wilt.
Seed rate
For Spring- Summer Crop: 8-10 kg/ acre
For Rainy Season Crop: 4.8-6.0 kg/ acre
Spacing
Spring - summer Crop: 45 x 30 cm
Rainy season Crop: 60 x 45 cm
Manure and fertilizers
FYM (t/ acre) N (Urea) kg/ acre P2O5 (DAP) kg/ acre K2O (MOP) kg/ acre
10 40 (82.0) 24 (52.8) 24 (40.8)
Apply 1/3 N along with other fertilizers as basal application and the
remaining N should be top dressed in two split doses, at 30 days after sowing
and at flowering.
For the ratoon crop, same nutrient schedule is followed and basal dressing
should be done immediately after pruning followed by irrigation and plant
protection measures.
In spring summer season, application of N in splits after every 3-4 pickings
increases the crop duration and yield.
Irrigation
Seed should be sown in optimum moisture conditions. Apply water at the
initiation of first true leaf during spring-summer and at its expansion during
rainy season. Irrigate the field subsequently at 5-6 days intervals during summer
and as and when required in rainy season crop. The crop must be irrigated during
its most critical stages i.e. flowering and fruit setting stages. However, over
irrigation should be avoided as it causes wilting.
Intercultural operations
3-4 hoeings/weedings are required. The first hoeing may be given when the
seedlings are two weeks are old and subsequent hoeing at fortnightly intervals.

3. PoP Vegetable Crops SKUAST-Jammu 2020
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Weed control
Apply fluchoralin 48 EC @ 0.6 kg a.i/ acre as pre-sowing soil incorporation
or pendimelhalin @ 0.3 kg a.i/ acre as post sowing and pre-emergence soil
surface spray. The surface application of these herbicides is effective for 4-5
weeks.
Harvesting and storage
First harvesting is generally done 40-50 days after sowing depending on the
variety. Harvest the tender fruits by bending the pedicel with a jerk or with the
help of a knife at every alternate day. Use cotton cloth gloves to protect fingers
and harvest in the morning for local market and in late evening for distant
markets. For local markets pre-cool the fruits by dipping in cold water and fill in
jute bags or baskets and sprinkle water on them. For distant markets the pre-
cooled fruits of graded size are packed in perforated paper cartons. The fruits can
be stored at 7-9�C temperature and 80-90% relative humidity for 7-10 days.
Seed Production
Okra is often cross pollinated crop and requires a minimum isolation
distance of 200 meter between two cultivars for seed production purpose. To
have true to type seed, first inspection is done before flowering, second at
flowering and fruiting and third before harvesting of the crop for removing off
type and diseased plants. The seed crop matures in 90-100 days. The pods are
picked 3-4 times due to uneven maturity. The harvested pods are dried in the sun
threshed and the seeds are cleaned.
Insect-pest management in bhindi/okra
Maggots and
White grubs
1. Broadcasting of quinalphos 5G @ 8-10kg/acre at the time of
sowing or cartap hydrochloride 4G @ 8-10 kg/acre at the time of
land preparation.
Jassids 1. Seed treatment with thiamethoxam 70WS @ 3g/kg seed or
imidacloprid 70WG @ 5g/kg seed before sowing.
2. Use of delta traps or sticky traps @ 4 /acre
3. Foliar Spray of imidacloprid 17.8SL (0.3ml/litre) during the
vegetative stage of the crop (before flowering)
4. Spraying of methyl demeton 25 EC @ 1 ml/litre or dimethoate 30
EC@ 2 ml/lit or malathion 50 EC @ 2 ml/litre of water after
flowering.
Aphids 1. Use Yellow sticky traps @ 4/acre
2. Spray 2 ml of malathion 50 EC per litre of water or imidacloprid
17.8 SL @ 0.3 ml/litre or of water or methyl demeton 25 EC@ 1
ml/litre or dimethoate 30 EC @ 2ml/litre as and when the pest is
noticed. If necessary, repeat the spray after 10-12 days.
Shoot and
Fruit borer
(Earias spp.)
1. Installation of Ervitlure @ 5-6 /acre for mass trapping of spotted
bollworm on bhendi.
2. Cypermethrin @ 1 ml/litre or malathion 50 EC@ 2 ml/litre of water
or methomyl 40 SP@ 2 g/litre of water or spinosad 45SC
@0.2ml/litre of water.

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3. All the consumable fruits should be picked before spraying.
Red cotton
bug
Spraying of acetamiprid 20 SP @ 0.2 g/litre of water or imidacloprid
17.8 SL@ 0.3 ml/litre of water or thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 0.25 g/litre
of water.
White flies
(Aleurolobus
spp.)
1. Seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WG @ 3g/kg of seed to
protect the crop from infestation up to 30-35 days.
2. Nursery crops should be covered with nylon net (200 mesh size) for
30 days.
3. Removal of weed hosts.
4. Use of delta traps or sticky traps @ 4/acre for effective catching of
whiteflies
5. Foliar spray of imidacloprid 17.8 SL@ (0.3 ml/litre of water)
during the vegetative stage of the crop (before flowering) or root
dip of tomato seedlings in imidacloprid 70 WG@ 3 g per lit of
water for half an hour.
6. Need based application of methyl demeton 25 EC@ 1ml or
dimethoate 30 EC (2ml/litre of water) after flowering.
Blister bettle
(Mylabris
postulate)
1. Hand picking and destruction
2. Spray quinalphos 25 EC@(0.03%) at evening hours
Disease Management in bhindi/okra
Seed/Seedling rot: (Fusarium spp.
Rhizoctonia spp. and Phytophthora spp.
Rotting of seeds result into failure of
germination or pre-emergence death. Emerged
seedlings exhibit dark brown rotting of roots
and collar portion with sudden or protracted
death or decline.
1. Use of healthy and disease free
seeds.
2. Management as mentioned in
damping off of tomato.
Yellow Vein Mosaic: (Leaf vein mosaic) Leaf
veins turn yellow, with leaf lamina light green.
Later on, the whole leaf may turn yellow
resulting into stunted growth and reduced
setting of fruits which are usually yellowish
white in colour. The virus is transmitted by
white fly (Bemisisia tabaci). The disease is
more severe in rainy season crop than summer
crop.
1. Use resistant/tolerant Varieties
especially for the rainy season.
2. Spray the crop if needed. With
imidacloprid Spraying of
acetamiprid 20 SP @ 0.2 g/litre of
water or imidacloprid 17.8 SL @
0.03%, especially before fruiting
starts in order to check the vector
population and rogue out infected
plants in early stages.