Manures and fertilisers
Apply FYM or compost as basal dose @ 12 t/ha. At the time of sowing, apply N, P2O5, and K2O @ 55,35 and 70 kg/ha. Another55 kg N per ha may be applied one month after sowing followed by earthing up operation. Fertilizers are applied by opening up a deep narrow furrow on one side of each sowing ridge. Generally, nitrogen fertilizers like urea, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and ammonium sulphate are suitable for this crop. For reclaimed soils of Kuttanad, a fertilizer dose of N:P2O5:K2O 75:5:15 kg/ha is recommended.
Apply FYM or compost @ 25t/ha as basal dose. T op dressing with groundnut cake 1 kg/ 10 litre ( 50 kg/ha) at fortnightly intervals upto flowering. Groundnut cake soaked for 3 days and the supernatant solution serves as the spray fluid.
Irrigation
Give presowing irrigation, if soil is not moist enough. A light irrigation given soon after seed sowing ensures good germination. Even though the crop can tolerate dry soil, moisture stress at fruit setting stage reduces the fruit quality and yield; and irrigating at regular interval is found to increase yield. So it is better to irrigate the crop at an interval of 2 to 3 days in summer. Furrow method of irrigation is best suited for bhindi. In high rainfall areas with rainfall uniformly distributed throughout the growing season, the crop can be grown as rain fed.
Weeding
It is necessary to keep the crop weed free during the first 20-25 days of plant growth. Conduct weeding regularly and earth up rows during rainy season. A total of 3 to 4 weedings are needed. The first weeding is done when the seedlings are two weeks old and subsequent weedings are done at an interval of 25 days. Pre emergence application of basalin 48 EC (1.5 kg a.i./ha) or stomp 30 EC (0.75 kg a.i./ha) followed by one hand weeding at 20-25 days after sowing is also practiced for controlling weed growth.