Okra Cultivation: Sowing to Picking

Financial Calculations

• Total Crop Cost: ₹19,500
• Total Income: ₹50,000
• Total Profit: ₹30,500

Okra Crop Calendar

Month	Activity	Description
May - June	Land Preparation	Do soil testing and light irrigation in the field.
June - July	Sowing Time	Sow the crop from June to July.
July - August	Crop Management	Use fertilizers and pesticides.
September - October	Harvesting	Harvest the crop when ready.

Varieties

1. Pusa Sawani: Early maturing variety, resistant to mosaic virus and powdery mildew, yield - 50-60 quintals per acre.
2. Arka Anamika: Good quality pods, yield - 55-65 quintals per acre.
3. Parbhani Kranti: Resistant to mosaic virus, good storage capacity, yield - 45-55 quintals per acre.
4. Bhindi-10: Medium duration variety, yield - 50-60 quintals per acre.
5. Ashok: Long and tender pods, yield - 60-70 quintals per acre.

Crop Management

Stage	Description
Land Preparation	Loamy soil with 6.0-7.5 pH is suitable for sowing.
Climate	Dry and warm weather Temperature - 20-35°C Annual rainfall - 500-700 mm.
Sowing Time	From the end of June to early July.
Seed Rate	1.5 - 2.5 kg seeds per acre.
Seed Treatment	Mix 2 grams Thiram 75 WP or 2 grams of Carbendazim 50 WP in 1 liter of water and treat per kg seed.
Fertilizer Management	Apply fertilizers based on soil test report Urea - 70 kg per acre Single Super Phosphate - 100 kg per acre Muriate of Potash - 27 kg per acre
Sowing	Maintain a plant-to-plant distance of 15-20 cm and row-to-row distance of 45 cm.  Sow seeds at a depth of 5 cm.
Water Management	The okra crop needs 3-4 irrigations.
Weed Management	Within 0-3 days of sowing, apply 1-1.5 liters of Pendimethalin 30 EC mixed in 200 liters of water for per acre.
Harvesting	Harvest green young and tender matured pods during evening time. Don't delay in harvesting it can cause your pods to be hard.

Disease Management

1. Damping Off
• Symptoms: Seeds do not germinate, wilting of the new leaves, plants become weak and dry.
• Control: Mix 1-2 grams of Mancozeb 75 WP or 1-2 grams of Carbendazim 50 WP in one liter  water and drench the soil.
2. Wilt
• Symptoms: Leaves and plants turn yellow and start to dry, retarded plant growth.
• Control: Mix 1 kg of Trichoderma viride with 20 kg of decomposed cow dung and apply it to one acre.
3. Powdery Mildew
• Symptoms: White powder appears on leaves and stems, leaves turn yellow, defoliation of the plant. 
• Control: Mix 200 ml Hexaconazole 5 EC or 200 ml Tebuconazole 25.9 EC in 200 liters of water and do foliar application per acre.
4. Cercospora Leaf Spot
• Symptoms: Small brown spots appear on the leaves, leaves fall prematurely.
• Control: Mix 200-250 gram Chlorothalonil 75 WP or 250-400 ml Hexaconazole 5 EC mixed in 200 liters of water and do foliar application per acre.

Pest Management

1. Pod Borer
• Symptoms: Holes on stems and pods, Cuts on the leaves.
• Control: Mix 50 ml Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC or 300 ml Fipronil 5 SC or 60 ml Spinosad 45 SC  in 200 liters of water and do foliar application per acre.
2. Aphids
• Symptoms: Yellow spots on leaves, leaves start to curl, black mold appears on the plant.
• Control: Mix 40-80 grams Acetamiprid 20 SP or 80 ml Imidacloprid 17.8 SL or 40-80 grams Thiamethoxam 25 WG mixed in 200 liters of water and do foliar application per acre.
3. Mites
• Symptoms: Leaves turn yellow and become deformed, plants dry up under heavy infestation.
• Control: Mix 150 ml Spiromesifen 22.9 SC in 200 liters of water and do foliar application per acre.
4. Whitefly
• Symptoms: Leaves curl and start to dry, plant growth stops, plants dry up.
• Control: Mix 80 ml of Imidacloprid 17.8 SL or 200 grams of Difenthiuron 50 WP or 40-60 grams Acetamiprid 20 SP in 200 liters of water and do foliar application per acre.