Urban Sprout
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Kitchen

Okra (Bhindi / Lady's Finger)

🐾 Pet-safe

Abelmoschus esculentus

Category
Kitchen
Light
Full sun
Watering
Every 2-3 days
Difficulty
Moderate
Mature size
60-90 cm
Pet safety
Non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Growing note

Handles peak Indian summer heat better than tomatoes or chillies, which makes it one of the more reliable fruiting vegetables for a hot, exposed balcony. Needs a 12-inch-plus container for a decent root run. Pods turn fibrous and woody within a day or two of reaching full size, so once flowering starts it needs harvesting every 1-2 days to stay tender. The fine bristles on stems and pods can mildly irritate skin during picking.