How To Grow Lady Finger (Bhindi) At Home: Benefits & Expert Care Tips

From being a regular lunch or dinner table meal to a biofuel – nothing is stopping this vegetable from getting famous!

Known as Okra worldwide and Bhindi in most parts of India, lady finger is slimy yet tasty.

Like India, the lady's finger is famous in most tropical, sub-tropical, and warm temperate regions. Lady's finger is eaten in various forms, like stew or stir-fried.

Not only the vegetables but also the leaves of this plant are equally nutritious. In some cultures, the young leaves of a lady's finger are used in salads.

What’s more?

The seeds of the lady's finger are not only eaten but also used to extract oil high in unsaturated fats such as oleic acid and linoleic acid. This oil effectively reduces skin inflammation, hydrates hair, and treats dandruff.

We will discuss how to grow lady fingers at home. What our blog covers is as follows: -

• Interesting facts about lady finger
• Benefits of lady finger
• How to grow lady finger at home
• Care tips for lady finger

Let’s get started.

Lady Finger is also popular as Okra

Interesting facts about lady finger 

1. Lady finger is a member of the mallow family (Malvaceae) which also includes hollyhock, cotton, hibiscus, etc.
2. For their content of vitamin K, folate, and iron, lady finger may be used in developing countries to palliate malnutrition and assuage food insecurity.
3. Do you know that the lady finger seeds may be roasted and ground to form a caffeine-free substitute for coffee?
4. Due to its flocculant qualities, the mucilage produced by the okra plant can be utilized to remove turbidity from wastewater.
5. Research is still on whether lady finger mucilage can be used in biodegradable food container or not. That’s because lady fingers mucilage has a thick polysaccharide film in composition.

Lady Finger and Hibiscus have similar flowers

Benefits of Lady Finger 

Nutrients per 100 gm of lady's fingers -

Has Therapeutic Properties

From being an excellent antioxidant to fighting fatigue, a lady's finger has more therapeutic benefits than one. It has anti-tumour properties and can also modulate the immune system. Lady fingers can help reduce fever and provide relief from inflammation and irritation.

Aids in weight loss

One can better manage the obesity condition by regularly consuming lady fingers. The high fiber content and minimal calorie content will help prevent overeating. The results can be tremendous if one maintains a healthy lifestyle and eats okra lady fingers regularly. 

Useful for the Stomach

The good bacteria in a lady's finger can be the stomach's best friend. The community of good bacteria or microbiomes reflects a positive attitude toward its consumption. The vegetable can have the same effect on the small intestine as yoghurt. 

Fights Diabetes 

Type 2 diabetes can be managed better by eating lady fingers. It can improve insulin sensitivity by blocking the carbohydrate-breaking enzyme. However, if you have diabetes and look forward to managing your blood sugar levels by eating lady's fingers, consult your doctor first. 

Helps Manage Skin Conditions

The plant is fiber-rich and has vitamin C. The fiber in the lady's finger helps remove toxic waste, improve pigmentation, and repair body tissues. At the same time, skin conditions require attending a dermatologist, and the inclusion of a lady's finger in your diet is beneficial. It can aid in managing acne, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. 

How to Grow Lady Finger at Home

• A sunny balcony or garden is the first thing to ensure while growing lady fingers at home. It is because the vegetable needs ample sunlight while growing.

• Take a nice large pot. They can be grown bags, plastic pots, or terracotta. The container should be 15 to 20 inches tall and wide with drainage holes.

• Get lady finger seeds online or at a store nearby. Remember to soak them for 10 to 15 hours before plating them. It helps speed up the germination process.

• Pick soil with high nutrients. A blend of garden soil and organic compost in a 60:40 ratio works fine. 

• Correct the soil's pH content. If you don't want drastic changes, work in plenty of compost to drive the pH content to neutral.

• Fill the pot and leave it 1 or 2 inches from the top. Take the soaked seeds and sow them an inch deep in the soil. 

• Do not crowd the pot; keep a gap of about 5 inches between each seed.

• Water the seeds regularly and keep the soil moist while the seeds germinate. The seeds will require moisture.

• Place the pot in a spot that receives direct sunlight for at least 5 hours. 

• You will see the seedlings sprouting in 10 days and flowers in about a month. After a month and a half or 45 days, you can have your first batch of lady's fingers. 

• Plucking the lady's fingers when they are slightly tender is suggested, as they can get too fibrous. Check them when the veggie is 4 or 5 inches long or around a palm's length. 
• Once ready to pluck, you can eat fresh lady fingers or store them as pickles. Remember to freeze the extra oaks if you plan to enjoy them in the winter. You can harvest the plant as long as it produces a crop. 

Care Tips for Lady Finger

Soil

Rich, draining soils are great for growing okra. In dense, sluggish soils, it won't thrive. The soil pH should be between 6.5 and 7.0.

Water

An inch of water per week is enough for this plant. These plants can tolerate brief dry spells after they are established. The soil for the young plants should be evenly damp but not saturated.

Temperature

Ladies' finger plants love high temperatures. In temperatures beyond 32 degrees Celsius, the plants become all the more powerful. They do well in dry situations but can still grow well in humid environments.

Fertilizer

You won't require additional fertilizer if your soil is naturally rich. Compost manure, seaweed, or fish fertilizer can occasionally be provided.

Sunlight

Six to eight hours of direct sunlight are essential.

Location

Choose the sunniest spot in your garden, balcony, or terrace to grow ladies' finger plants.

Following the steps mentioned above will yield fresh lady fingers grown at home. Remember to sow high-quality seeds for the best experience. 

FAQs Related to Lady Finger Bhindi

How long does it take to grow a lady's finger?

The lady's finger can be harvested 40-50 days after sowing. The flowers will bloom at the beginning of the second month, and the harvesting will continue for the next three months after the first harvest.

Can a lady's fingers be easily grown? 

The plant thrives at a temperature between 25 to 35 degrees and thrives excellently under the sun. While the seeds take 5 to 6 days to germinate, the plant matures in 55 to 65 days.

Which is the best month for growing a lady's finger? 

The plant is grown in tropical and subtropical regions. The best months to grow this vegetable are June to August and January to March.

Can a lady's finger be grown from fresh seeds?

Yes, the fresh seeds are capable of growing into fresh new plants.

Which is a good fertiliser for ladies' fingers?

Organic manures like poultry manure and neem cakes help in plant growth and improvement. Any other compost can also be used to yield better results.