What is the best way to plant okra?
Planting Okra:
- Start okra seeds indoors in peat pots 3-4 weeks before the last frost date in spring.
- Keep the pots in full sunlight during this time.
- Once the soil temperature reaches 65-70F, you can transplant your okra seedlings outdoors.
- You can speed up the seedlings' growth by soaking the seeds in tepid water overnight.
Where does okra grow best?
Planting Okra in Different Climates
- TROPICAL CLIMATE. Temperatures in tropical climates average about 64.4°F (18°C), which is ideal for growing okra. ...
- DRY CLIMATE. Dry climates can be hot or cold, and conditions may be semi-arid or desert. ...
- TEMPERATE CLIMATE. ...
- CONTINENTAL CLIMATE. ...
- POLAR CLIMATE. ...
How to raise okra?
Planting
- Loosen the soil of your future okra patch with a hoe or rototiller. Work the soil to a depth of about 12 inches.
- Spread up to 4 inches of compost on the surface of your garden bed and spade it into the bed to incorporate the compost into the soil.
- Set black plastic over the soil if you live at high elevations with chilly nights. ...
How long will okra produce?
Okra takes 50 – 65 days to grow and mature. The plants will continue to produce pods if they are receiving sunlight, fertilizer, and proper water. If you have a longer growing season, this means more okra! It’s important to know when okra is ready to pick.
See more
How much space does an okra plant need?
Okra rows should be 3 feet apart. After the plants are 3 to 4 inches tall, thin them to 1 foot between the plants.
How wide does okra get?
Okra plants can be as wide as 5 feet (1.5 meters), but most will have a width of 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters). Okra pods are usually 2 to 6 inches long, but some can get as large as 7 inches long.
How much okra can one plant produce?
How much okra can you get from one plant? If your okra plants have ideal conditions, they can produce 20 – 30+ pods per plant. In a warmer hardiness zone such as zone 9b, you will have a longer growing season, into the fall or longer. Okra is a good choice for fall and winter vegetable gardens in some areas.
How big is a mature okra plant?
6 to 8 feet tallIn warm climates where summer lasts a long time, standard-sized plants can get 6 to 8 feet tall. In this case, many people prune in late summer by cutting back about one-third of the plants' tops. Buds along the main stem then grow and produce a late crop. Okra is a "cut-and-come-again" vegetable.
What can you not plant near okra?
Don't plant them too close, as cucumbers vines spread and also need a large amount of sun to ripen. Pepper plants will repel cabbage worms, which can be a destructive nuisance to okra plants.
How long does okra plant live?
The plants can produce for ten to 12 weeks. It grows and bears seed pods until frost, which quickly turns them black and kills them. Start harvesting a few days after the okra blooms fade.
Should you trim okra leaves?
Should you trim okra leaves? Once okra leaves aren't able to produce food for the plant, the plant starts to get rid of them. The leaves start to take up more energy than they produce so yes, cut off any little dying leaves near the bottom of the plant as well as any leaves that are looking weak or starting to shrivel.
Does okra grow back every year?
It is a perennial but it is often grown as an annual in temperate climates. It is grown for its edible seed pods which may be green or purple in color, depending on variety. It is though to have originated in Africa where it was grown before finding its way to the Americas.
How many times can you harvest okra?
Harvesting okra can be tricky, however, because you have to harvest the pods before they become tough. It takes only about four days from the time of flowering to the time to pick okra. Harvest okra every other day to keep them producing as long as possible.
Does okra need a trellis?
Okra Is A Large Plant. An area about 2 1/2′ to 3′ wide should be sufficient. Since it can grow up to 8′ tall it may need staking or a trellis, especially in windy areas.
Do okra plants grow back after winter?
Okra won't grow in cold temperatures and needs warm air and soil temperatures to germinate and thrive.
What is the best month to plant okra?
Okra is a plant that's all about summer. Although it grows over a wide range — from zone 4 to 11 — don't sow seeds outdoors or plant out seedlings until all risk of spring frost has passed. Okra can be started from seed indoors four to six weeks between the last possible frost date.
What Happens If okra gets too big?
Don't toss okra that grows too big And, much like zucchini and other fruits and vegetables that get big, okra can get a bit woody, and its tempting, delicate flavor can take on a bitter edge as the pods grow to giant-like proportions.
How big is too big for okra?
Picking okra should be done when the pods are 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) long. If you leave them too long, the pods get hard and woody. Once you're done picking okra, store them in plastic bags in your refrigerator where they will last about a week or freeze the pods if you have too much to use.
Does okra need a trellis?
Okra Is A Large Plant. An area about 2 1/2′ to 3′ wide should be sufficient. Since it can grow up to 8′ tall it may need staking or a trellis, especially in windy areas.
Should okra plants be pruned?
Cutting back okra allows the plants to rejuvenate to produce a late summer/fall crop. Cut back plants using a mower or pruning shears, leaving 6 to 12 inches of each plant above the ground. Refertilize with 15-0-14, 8-0-24, or 13-0-44 to encourage regrowth and development of side branches.
How tall should okra be?
Especially mid-way through the season, when the okra plants are 18″ – 24″ tall, they will benefit from nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer. It takes a lot of energy for okra to produce seed pods. Feeding extra nutrients will help ensure optimum growth and help the okra plant to produce all season.
What is the color of okra?
Okra grows into a pretty plant. It has one thick stem and produces gorgeous flowers and green leaves with a touch of red.
Where does okra grow best?
Okra is an annual. Okra grows the best in hardiness zones 6 – 11. You can grow okra in zone 5 but will need to take greater care with the plants.
What kind of soil does okra like?
Okra is hardy and does well in many types of soil. It even grows well where the soil is poor. Therefore, it’s something to try in areas of your garden where you haven’t been able to grow anything.
What do you do with okra?
Many people fry okra and use it in recipes. You can also store okra by canning, pickling, or freezing it.
How many pods of okra per plant?
If your okra plants have ideal conditions, they can produce 20 – 30+ pods per plant. In a warmer hardiness zone such as zone 9b, you will have a longer growing season, into the fall or longer. Okra is a good choice for fall and winter vegetable gardens in some areas.
How much sunlight does an okra plant need?
When considering okra plant care, it’s most important they get 6+ hours of sunlight each day.
When to Plant Okra
Okra are not a frost tolerant vegetable. This means the best time to plant them is mid to late spring, once there is no longer a chance of frost in your area.
How to Plant Okra
Plant your okra seeds directly in the soil of your garden or container at a depth of 0.5 inches (1 centimetre). Seeds can be planted outside or you can germinate them indoors and transplant them later. Typically, okra seeds take about 1 - 2 weeks to fully germinate.
How to Grow Okra in Pots
The key to caring for okra in containers is well draining soil and a pot big enough for their root system. Aim for a pot that is roughly 577 cubic inches (9,455 cubic centimetres) in size. A typical 10 or 12 inch flower pot is a great container option for okra.
How Long do Okra Take to Grow
On average, it takes about 50 - 65 days from planting for a okra seed to develop into a fully mature plant.
How Big do Okra Get
Typically, okra plants reach about 2 - 3 feet (or 75 centimetres) in height. Though this can fluctuate depending on the variety.
How Much Sunlight do Okra Need
Okra need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day in order to thrive. Be careful to place your plants in an area that receives adequate sunlight. Otherwise, they may not mature properly.
How Much Water do Okra Need
Okra like well draining soil that is kept consistently moist, but not wet or soggy. The amount of water it takes to achieve this effect will differ depending on the type of soil available to you.
How tall does a Cajun Delight okra grow?
It grows to about 4.5 feet tall. ‘Park’s Candelabra Branching’, which is a base-branching okra plant. This type of branching makes picking easy. ‘Cajun Delight’, which has spineless, dark-green pods and grows to about 4 feet tall.
How long does it take to harvest okra?
How to Harvest Okra. The first harvest will be ready about 2 months after planting. Harvest the okra when it’s about 2 to 3 inches long. Harvest it every other day. Cut the stem just above the cap with a knife; if the stem is too hard to cut, the pod is probably too old and should be tossed.
Why do you have to wear gloves when cutting okra?
Wear gloves and long sleeves when cutting the okra because most varieties are covered with tiny spines that will irritate your skin, unless you have a spineless variety. Do not worry: this irritation will not happen when you eat them.
What is the best soil for okra?
Soil should ideally be on the acidic side, with a pH between 5.8 and 7.0.
Is okra a southern plant?
Okra is traditionally a southern U.S. plant that thrives in warm weather. Here’s how to grow okra plants in your own garden! Okra is easy to grow and use and looks lovely throughout the growing season due to its beautiful flowers.
What does an overgrown okra look like?
The plant develops yellowish blooms that turn into long green seed pods, which look like they have a cap where the pod meets the stem.
How long are okra pods?
Okra is considered suitable for eating when it is small and young, maybe two days old or so, with the pods less than 4 to 5 inches long. Age is a better indicator of edibility than length.
How long does it take for okra seeds to dry?
All you have to do at that point is let the seeds themselves dry out – this could take a few days – then store them in airtight containers. No fermenting is necessary, unlike with other seeds. If you have more old pods than you need for seed saving, use whole overgrown okra pods in dried flower arrangements.
How to save okra seeds?
Saving Okra Seeds. If you like okra and are planning to plant more next year, save the seeds from those larger pods. When you find pods that are just too old or too big to really be edible, leave them alone and let them dry out.
Can you fry okra?
Okra pods (Abelmoschus esculentus) are versatile vegetables that you can fry, roast and stew, as well as eat raw. The pods are tender when young but become tough and develop an unpalatable, characteristic okra woody texture when they are bigger.
Quick Guide to Growing Okra
Plant okra in hot weather when evening temperatures are in the 60s or warmer.
Soil, Planting, and Care
Choose your sunniest spot for growing okra, and wait until the weather is warm to set out your plants. Plants like it when nights are at least in the 60s and days 85 or warmer. In the North, gardeners might wait until late June to plant, since pods appear within 2 months.
Troubleshooting
Cool weather is okra's number-one enemy, and stressed plants may fall victim to verticillium and fusarium wilts, which are soil-borne diseases that cause them to wilt and die. Another serious pest is root knot nematode. Ants often climb up plants to steal sips of nectar but seldom cause serious damage.
Harvest and Storage
Warm weather helps pods grow quickly, so check plants every day once they start producing. A pod can grow from nothing to full size in 2 or 3 days. Pods first appear at the base of the plant up so that by the end of the season you could be on your tiptoes to harvest.
FAQs
Some varieties are listed as "spineless." However, the term is a description of the okra pod itself, and not the plant. All plants have at least tiny, fuzzy spines that cause burning and itching when you rub against them. Wear long sleeves and gloves to harvest okra if you are bothered by the prickly plant.
What is the best way to cook okra?
While there is no guarantee okra's mild taste will come through in the giant variety, okra pods are best cooked one of two ways: stewed or baked.
How to soften okra pods?
Slowly cook your overlarge okra into a gumbo or stew to soften their pod structure. The key here is to cut the okra into bite-size pieces, so the fruit (yes, okra technically is a fruit) is tender. Or, slit the pods down the side and stuff them with a bit of cheese or spicy meat mixture (an Indian mixture like kheema would be delicious) ...
How long to bake okra in oven?
They start out the same way. Dry the okra, either on the stem or by spreading it out on a cookie sheet and placing it in a 150 F oven for six to 10 hours.
Can you eat okra raw?
If the okra itself is bitter, slide your meat and cheese mixture onto your plate and discard the pods that surrounded the tasty mixture. Okra is best when it's small, and it's versatility in the kitchen allows it to be prepared in various ways. You can eat it raw or cooked, stewed, grilled, pickled, or fried.
Is okra good for you?
You can eat it raw or cooked, stewed, grilled, pickled, or fried. Put it in soups and stews, or season it and make a snack of it. It's all good, and good for you, too. Okra contains potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid, and calcium. It's low in calories and high in fiber.
Can you paint okra?
You want your okra thoroughly dried to prevent mildew. You can paint the okra, lacquer it, or even leave it natural. Then let your imagination flow. Paint a Santa face on an okra pod, complete with flowing white beard.
Is it better to eat okra or zucchini?
Bigger is not always better, especially when you're talking okra. As the okra season goes on, the okra pods get bigger. And, much like zucchini and other fruits and vegetables that get big, okra can get a bit woody, and its tempting, delicate flavor can take on a bitter edge as the pods grow to giant-like proportions.
How long does it take for an okra to flower?
Flowering should begin around 50 to 65 days after planting, depending on the variety. The plants can then produce pods for 10 to 12 weeks. Okra with no flowers may just require patience. Not enough sun. Okra is a full-sun plant, and it won’t bloom well unless it has at least 6 to 8 hours of daily sun. Not enough heat.
Why are there no flowers on my okra?
For the plant, the goal of flower and fruit production is to provide seeds for reproduction.
Why is my okra not blooming?
Lack of water or nutrient imbalance. Non-blooming okra may be suffering from a lack of water. Okra is more drought tolerant than many garden plants, but watering it will keep it healthier and may make it more productive. Also, okra prefers fertilizers that are higher in phosphorus than nitrogen.
How long does it take for a pod to grow?
Be sure to harvest pods promptly when they are the right size to eat, about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm.) long. This is usually after only 2 or 3 days of growth. Remove any older pods that have become too tough to eat so they won’t reduce future bloom and pod production. Printer Friendly Version.
Is okra a good plant?
Printer Friendly Version. Image by Ksdphoto. Okra is a great garden plant for warm and hot climates. In addition to the okra pods for cooking, you get to enjoy the flowers, which are similar in appearance to hibiscus flowers.
Can you grow okra in hot weather?
Not enough heat. Okra likes hot weather and won’t do well in cool climates. Don’t try to plant okra when the soil is cooler than 65-70 degrees F. (18-21 degrees C.) in the spring. If your garden is slow to warm up, try starting okra seedlings indoors and carefully transplanting when the soil is warm enough. You can also try some measures to warm the soil in spring, like placing plastic sheeting over the soil. Additionally, look for varieties that are known to do well in your climate.
