Small Space, Big Harvest: Growing Bhendi in Containers and Small Gardens

Are you limited by a small garden or lack of outdoor space? Don’t let that stop you from enjoying a bountiful harvest of fresh and delicious bhendi (okra). With the right techniques and a little creativity, you can successfully grow bhendi in containers and small gardens. In this post, we will explore the steps, tips, and benefits of cultivating bhendi in limited spaces, ensuring a small space yields a big harvest.

1. Selecting the Right Container: When growing bhendi in containers, choose containers that are at least 12-18 inches deep to allow the roots to develop properly. Khloroz’s 12 x 12 growbags best suitable for growing one bhendi plant. It has drain holes to prevent waterlogging, and also lightweight containers if you need to move them around.
2. Choosing the Ideal Bhendi Variety: Select compact and dwarf varieties of bhendi that are suitable for container gardening. Khloroz’s Bhendi Seeds best suitable for home garden made. It is made for small spaces, dwarf okra or spineless variety, which are more manageable and produce abundant yields.
3. Sowing: Unpack the Khloroz’s Bhendi Seeds and soak the seeds over night in a bowl. Discard the floating seeds if any in the bowl. Take out the sunk seeds for planting. Before planting ensure potting mix are ready. One seed per Khloroz’s 12 x 12 growbags is sufficient. Gently press the seeds inside the potting mix for an one inch. cover the seed with potting mix and water it using rose cane. Khloroz’s Bhendi Seeds takes 5-7 days for germination. Water the container daily in the morning (Preferably 6-7 AM) so that seeds can imbibe water and starts to germinate. Dont flood the pot. Ensure soil has enough moisture. After sowing cover the growbag using wet cloth. Dark inside the pot helps to root fast. After germination irrigate the growbag two days once.
4. Providing Adequate Sunlight: Bhendi thrives in full sunlight, so place your containers in a spot that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. If you have limited sun exposure, consider using reflective surfaces to maximize the available light or invest in grow lights for indoor gardening.
5. Preparing the Soil Mix: Use a well-draining potting mix enriched with organic matter to ensure healthy growth. Khloroz’s Potting Mix provide essential nutrients for your Bhendi plant. Avoid using heavy garden soil, as it can lead to poor drainage and hinder root development. Apply Biofertilizer Azospirillum @ 5-10g/Plant 5days after germination. Biofertilizers will colonise the root zone and restricts harmfull pathogen to enter into plant. Also apply Phosphobacteria @ 5-10g/Plant to solubilize available phosphosurs in potting mix to the plant.
6. Watering and Moisture Management: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water your bhendi plants deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. Container-grown plants may require more frequent watering, especially during hot summer months. Mulching can help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
7. Providing Support: Bhendi plants tend to grow tall and can benefit from support. Place stakes or small trellises in the containers to provide support for the plants as they grow. This helps prevent sprawling and improves air circulation around the foliage.
8. Fertilizing and Nutrient Needs: Feed your bhendi plants with a balanced organic fertilizer or compost every 3-4 weeks to ensure they receive adequate nutrients. Be mindful not to over-fertilize, as it can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of fruit production. Use Khloroz’s Vermicompost to provide organic fertilizer. Enriched with macro and micro nutrients, it supplies plant nutrients which can be observed by plants easily. Apply organic nutrient in 15, 25, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 days after germination. 50g/plant is sufficient for one plant. One plant will require 5Kg of Khloroz’s Vermicompost for its life span of 120days. Also apply Micro nutrient to ensure plants grow healthy.
9. Pest Management: Monitor your plants regularly for pests like aphids, spider mites, or fruit borers. Use organic pest control methods such as neem oil or insecticidal soap to address infestations promptly. Practicing crop rotation and maintaining good garden hygiene can also help prevent disease issues.
   • White fly:
     • Symptoms of Damage: Chlorotic spots on the leaves which latter coalesce forming irregular yellowing of leaf tissue. Severe infestation results in premature defoliation. Development of sooty mold. Vector of yellow vein mosaic virus
     • Control Measure: Spray Neem oil (3% – 3ml in one liter) on 10, 20, 30 days after germination. Use Yellow Sticky trap 3 per plant. Maintain plant distant between plants.
   • Aphids:
     • Symptoms of Damage: Infesting tender shoots and under surface of the leaves. Curling and crinkling of leaves. Stunted growth. Development of black sooty mould due to the excretion of honey dew
     • Control Measure: Spray Neem seed kernel extract 5% on 15, 25, 35 days after germination.
10. Harvesting and Enjoying the Bounty: Bhendi pods are ready for harvest when they are about 3-4 inches long and still tender. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to harvest the pods, taking care not to damage the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continuous production and ensures optimal taste and texture.

Growing bhendi in containers and small gardens is a rewarding experience, even in limited spaces. By following these steps and implementing proper care, you can enjoy a big harvest of fresh, homegrown bhendi throughout the growing season. Don’t let space constraints hold you back from the joys of gardening and the pleasure of savoring your own delicious okra dishes. Embrace small-scale gardening and relish the abundant rewards it brings!