Okra
Abelmoschus esculentus

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A perennial, often cultivated as an annual in temperate climates.

Abelmoschus esculentus is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Not known in a truly wild situation.

The original habitat is obscure.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, China, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Immature fruit - cooked on their own or added to soups etc. They can be used fresh or dried. Mucilaginous, they are commonly used as a thickening for soups, stews and sauces. The fruits are rich in pectin and are also a fair source of iron and calcium. The fresh fruits contain 740 iu vitamin A. The fruit should be harvested whilst young, older fruits soon become fibrous. The fruit can be up to 20cm long. Seed - cooked or ground into a meal and used in making bread or made into 'tofu' or 'tempeh'. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute. Probably the best of the coffee substitutes. The seed contains up to 22% of an edible oil. The leaves, flower buds, flowers and calyces can be eaten cooked as greens. The leaves can be dried, crushed into a powder and stored for later use. They are also used as a flavouring. Root - it is edible but very fibrous. Mucilaginous, without very much flavour.

Oil: Oil

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Coffee: the various substitutes that can be used instead of coffee.

Pectin: a substance that is used to thicken jams etc and as a culture medium in laboratories.

Medicine

Rating: 3

The roots are very rich in mucilage, having a strongly demulcent action. They are said by some to be better than marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis). This mucilage can be used as a plasma replacement. An infusion of the roots is used in the treatment of syphilis. The juice of the roots is used externally in Nepal to treat cuts, wounds and boils. The leaves furnish an emollient poultice. A decoction of the immature capsules is demulcent, diuretic and emollient. It is used in the treatment of catarrhal infections, ardor urinae, dysuria and gonorrhoea. The seeds are antispasmodic, cordial and stimulant. An infusion of the roasted seeds has sudorific properties.

Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.

Demulcent: Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.

Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Emollient: Softens the skin, causing warmth and moisture.

Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.

Vulnerary: Promotes the healing of wounds.

Other

Rating: 2

A fibre obtained from the stems is used as a substitute for jute. It is also used in making paper and textiles. The fibres are about 2.4mm long. When used for paper the stems are harvested in late summer or autumn after the edible seedpods have been harvested, the leaves are removed and the stems are steamed until the fibres can be stripped off. The fibres are cooked for 2 hours with lye and then put in a ball mill for 3 hours. The paper is cream coloured. A decoction of the root or of the seeds is used as a size for paper.

Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Paper: Related to the entry for Fibre, these plants have been specifically mentioned for paper making.

Pectin: A substance that is used to thicken jams etc and as a culture medium in laboratories.

Size: Used on materials, paper etc to give a surface that will take ink, dyes etc.

Industrial Crop: Fiber: Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Protein-oil: (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

Industrial Crop: Fiber: Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Protein-oil: (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in full sun and a pH around 6 to 6.7 but it tolerates a wide range of soil types and pH from 5.5 to 8. It prefers a soil with a high potash content. The plant requires a warm sunny position sheltered from winds. It likes plenty of moisture, both in the soil and in the atmosphere. Okra is commonly cultivated in warm temperate and tropical areas for its edible seedpod, there are many named varieties. Most cultivars require about 4 months from sowing before a crop is produced, though some early maturing varieties can produce a crop in 50 days in the tropics. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it sometimes succeeds outdoors in hot summers but is really best grown in a greenhouse since it prefers daytime temperatures of 25°c or more. Plants also dislike low night temperatures. There are some early-maturing varieties that are more tolerant of cooler temperate conditions and these could be tried outdoors. These include 'Clemson's Spineless', 'Emerald Spineless', 'Long Green' and 'Green Velvet'. The flowers are much visited by bees but they may require syringing in order to improve fertilization when plants are grown in a greenhouse. Plants resent being transplanted.

Propagating it: Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse. The seed germinates in 27 days at 15°c or 6 days at 35°c. When large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 5-11

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

The hairs on the seed pods can be an irritant to some people and gloves should be worn when harvesting. These hairs can be easily removed by washing.

This plant can be weedy or invasive.

Its other names

Local names

A-koto, Angu, Apala, Asowntem, Bakhua-mun, Bamia, Bandakka, Bendi, Bhindee, Bhindi, Binda, Bindi, Bondo, Cantarela, Derere rechipudzi, Derere, Dheras, Dherosh, Enmomi, Fetri, Gombaut, Gombo, Gumbo, Guro, Gusha, Hakuyot, Idelele, Ikhievbo, Ilasha, Ilo, Ka fei huang kui, Kacang bendi, Kaganh lender, Kandia, Kandjie, Kopi arab, Krachiap-mon, Kubewa, Lafeu, Lieka, Loka, Maana, Ma-lontho, Mesta, Muomi, Miagorro, Nathando, Nkruma, Obori, Ochro, Okworu, Okwulu, Otigo-iwoka, Pahari bendi, Pingpesi, Poot barang, Pui, Quiabo, Quimbambo, Saluyot a bunga, Sayur bendi, Taku, Uisul hme, Vandakai, Vandikkai, Vendal, Wayika, You-padi,

Synonyms

Hibiscus esculentus. L.