Optimising sowing date for late-season okra grown in rainforest environment in Nigeria

Late-season Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench.) cultivation is a strategic practice among farmers in the Rainforest Agroecology of Nigeria, driven by its profitability and the opportunity to address market scarcity during the dry season; to ensure consistent supply in the food chain. However, the success of this practice hinges on optimising sowing dates to maximise productivity and sustain profitability. The objective of this study was to harmonise late- sowing dates in order to optimise the performance of Okra in the Rainforest Agroecology zone of Nigeria. A study was conducted at Benin City, using five sowing dates (mid-August, early-September, mid-September, early-October, and mid-October) as treatments. The trial was laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design, in six replicates and the study repeated two times. The study revealed that earlier sowing dates (mid-August to early September) significantly enhanced plant height, delayed flowering and increased capsule yield (4612.5-3715.6 kg ha-1). In contrast, later sowing dates (October) were associated with reduced growth and lower yields (2078.6-732.2 kg ha-1), primarily due to shortened growing periods, thermal stress and diminished residual soil moisture. These findings show the critical need for optimal sowing dates to sustain the profitability and productivity of late-season Okra farming. By adopting mid-August to early September sowing, smallholder farmers can achieve better yields, stabilise the supply chain, and contribute to food security in the face of climate variability.