Grow Lobia- If you have little space in the house and want to grow some vegetables, then lobia is a good choice. You can easily grow lobia in your small kitchen garden. It is full of many qualities. Vitamins and minerals are found in it. This vegetable is best in terms of health. It can be grown on the terrace, balcony or in a small space in the house. In this article, we will know how to grow Lobia.

Right time to grow Cowpea or Lobia

You can easily grow cowpea in the home garden in summer. It does not require much effort to grow it. It can be grown in both Rabi and Kharif seasons. Most people plant it in February or April. However, it grows easily in summer. You can plant its seeds.

Selection of grow bag for cowpea or Lobia

It is important to consider the grow bag before planting any plant. You have to choose the grow bag according to the size of the plant. To grow cowpea, you can take an 18-inch wide pot. You can also choose a grow bag larger than this. You can choose the grow bag here as per your convenience.

Soil ready for growing cowpea or Lobia

Soil is an important link for the growth of the plant. You have to pay full attention while preparing the soil. If you want a good yield then loamy soil is suitable for this. You can also plant cowpea in heavy, sandy or other soil. The soil should have good drainage. You have to increase the amount of organic matter in it. You can add cow dung manure in it.

Grow cowpea or Lobia seeds 

You should buy good cowpea seeds from a seed shop. If the variety of seeds is good, then the yield will also be good. You have to treat the seeds before growing them. Before sowing, soak them in turmeric water for 12 to 24 hours. After that, sow cowpea seeds in the prepared soil at a depth of 3-4 cm and at a distance of 10-15 cm.

Irrigation

It needs water. You should water them regularly. Maintain moisture in the grow bag containing the seeds. However, you should not allow waterlogging. When you feel that the soil is drying, water it immediately. You have to water the cowpea plants as per the need.

Pest and disease prevention

Mostly insects like aphids, thrips and bean pod borer settle on cowpea. You should spray neem oil. They can also be controlled with other homemade remedies. Apart from this, cowpea may suffer from diseases like pod rot, leaf spot and root rot. To prevent these diseases, treat the seeds and take care of hygiene.

Control weeds

Weeds do not allow any plant to grow. If weeds have grown near your cowpea plants, then control them. Remove them from the grow bag. Spray white vinegar on the weeds. Remember not to spray it on the plants. Weeds do not allow nutrients to reach your plants.

Fertilizer in Cowpea or Lobia

Usually when people cultivate it on a large scale, they use urea. If you are growing it in the kitchen garden, then we have to take organic. Therefore, you should use organic fertilizer in it. You can mix old cow dung manure, vermicompost, kitchen compost etc. in it. You can fertilize it at an interval of 15 to 20 days. Keep in mind to keep weeding the plant.

Be careful while harvesting

Lobia pods are ready in two months. They are plucked green. If you want to dry them, pluck them and keep them in the shade. Lobia is used in making many types of dishes. It is very nutritious. It can be eaten as a salad, in dal or as a vegetable.

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