Growing okra at home is a great room to add a broken maintenance , unique vegetable to your summer garden .
But the first footmark in learning how to grow okra successfully is understanding what it needs to fly high .
In this guide you ’ll find all the details you need , include weewee , light , soil , and fertiliser requirements , plus extra tips on pests , pruning , harvest , and more .
Small okra starting to form on the plant
Table of Contents
Quick Okra Care Overview
Information About Okra
Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus ) is a member of the Malvaceae family that also admit cotton , holly hocks , andhibiscus . It ’s an easy to farm warm weather condition vegetable originally from Africa .
It has a single main stem , thin branches , and bombastic leave-taking . The plants range in size from 3 - 8 ’ tall , and produce edible seed pod from either yellow or white flowers that are similar in appearance to a hibiscus .
The entire works , including the pods on many varieties , is shroud with small , bristled hair that can cause cutis temper .
The pods are edible when tender and youthful , and traditionally used for thickening stews or okra , make it the soubriquet ‘ Gumbo ’ .
Different Types Of Okra
There are many different variety of okra plant to take from . They are typically immature or red , and pasture in overall sizing and days to maturity date .
Many gardeners opt for a invertebrate variety , which feature seedcase without the spiky hairs . gratefully no matter which type you prefer , they can all be cared for in the same way .
Hardiness
Okra is a repeated vegetable that will grow class around in warm climates where there are no frosts or freezes .
It ’s hardy year - unit of ammunition in zone 10 - 12 where the winters are mild , however it ’s grown as an yearbook in most regions .
How Does Okra Grow?
Edible okra pod grow from the passably large self - cross-pollinate prime that begin to appear in mid - summer .
The heyday have both manly and female parts and will produce pod without the assist of pollinator in 3 - 4 mean solar day , as long as growing condition are ideal .
How To Grow Okra
Before we get into the specific care needs , first rent ’s chat about where and when to grow okra . Choose the veracious time and positioning to help your plants acquire at their very best .
Where To Grow Okra
Okra grows just in a positioning that gets plenty of direct sun . They do great either in the primer coat or in large containers that have good drainage .
Some varieties can get very tall . So take a space or a pot that can admit the mature size without it becoming confined or crowding neighboring plants .
When To Plant Okra
Okra is a heat and sun loving plant . It will not grow in temperatures less than 60 ° F ( 15.5 ° C ) , so do n’t endeavor to plant it early .
Instead , wait until all probability of frost has passed in the leaping and the soil temperature is about 65 ° F ( 18 ° C ) or above . you could check that with aprobe thermometer .
If you inhabit in a nerveless climate , begin okra indoors 2 - 4 hebdomad before the last frost . select abiodegradable potthat will allow you to embed them directly without disturbing the delicate taproots .
Okra Plant Care & Growing Instructions
Now that you have intercourse where and when to set it , it ’s clip to peach about how to grow gumbo at home . The fear tips here will help you make an idealistic produce surroundings for them to thrive .
Sunlight
Okra require full , direct sunlight to grow its well . opt an country in the garden that will receive as much sun as possible throughout the day , uninhibited by tone .
As they originate grandiloquent , okra plants can start to cast shadows over each other . So space them according to the anticipated final sizing . Too much tone will reduce flowering , as well as seedpod production and growth .
Water
Okra is one of the more drouth resistant vegetables . It does n’t like wet foot and can handle some periods of dryness .
But too piffling water can lead to wilting and stunted growth , especially when the plant begins producing flowers and pods . Provide 1 ” weekly , then permit it dry out out slightly between drinks .
Temperature
rut is your supporter when growing gumbo . It prefers temperature in the mountain chain of 70 - 85 ° F ( 21 - 29.4 ° cytosine ) .
The plants can even tolerate extreme highs of 100 ° F ( 37.7 ° C ) , but reach out spicy periods will take more frequent water .
Anything cool than 60 ° F ( 15.5 ° C ) can stunt or stall emergence , and any type of frosts or frost will quickly kill the industrial plant .
Fertilizer
Abelmoschus esculentus is not a heavy feeder , but it benefits from the periodic app of fertilizer throughout the growing time of year .
opt balanced , constituent fertilizer in either granulose or fluid forms . Apply slow - liberation granules once in the spring and summer , or liquids up to once a calendar month .
Compost teaandfish emulsionare both effective natural liquid choice , or you may utilize organicflowering veg granule .
Soil
Okra is n’t too finical about dirt . But the ideal portmanteau is well - draining , loamy , and fertile , with a pH set out between 6.0 - 8.0 , which you may examine with aprobe caliber .
Amend garden soil with well - aged manure orcompostat planting time to meliorate nutrient value and drainage , and get your plant life off to a proper start .
Pruning
There ’s no real indigence to prune lady’s-finger , particularly if you ’re grow it as an annual . But a few trims throughout the season makes harvest home easier .
Always use aseptic , abrupt prunersand get into long - arm andglovesto protect your cutis from the bristly plant .
Okra pods develop at the bottom first , then steady move up the industrial plant . Cut back the top when the plant attain 5 - 6 ’ tall to keep seedpod within loose reach and to promote bushier growth .
At the end of the summertime , prune back the top 2 ’ of leafage to re - invigorate it and encourage a last crop to shape .
Pest Control Tips
Okra is not prone to many pest problems , but they can hap . Aphids , root knot nematodes , and flea mallet are a few of the most common ones .
Sharp blast of water , good worm , neem oil , andinsecticidal soapare all effective measure against aphid and little bugs . I make my own atomizer by mixing 1 teaspoon ofgentle liquidity soapwith 1 cubic decimetre of water .
etymon knot nematode can get swollen rootage and stunted growth . There are measuring you could take , such as heating or increase organic matter in the territory to reduce their numbers , but only before planting .
Disease Control Tips
Healthy okra plants are unremarkably fairly problem complimentary , but they can settle dupe to downy mildew and fusarium wilting .
Mildew will appear as white berth or patch on the leaves . Water at the stand of the industrial plant , maintain good air flow , and applyorganic fungicideto prevent or stop it from spreading .
Wilt is a ground borne disease that will finally kill the plant . Affected plant should be take out and destroyed ( not in your compost bin ) , to prevent it from propagate through the garden .
Tips For Harvesting Okra
The good time to harvest is when the pods are new and tender , ideally between 2 - 4 ” long . They will become ropey and elusive if you let them spring up much larger .
Use sharp , sterilemicro snipsorprecision prunersto clip the okra off the stem just above the pod roof .
Okra is a plant life that benefits from continual harvesting . The more you pick , the more it will produce . They develop in as short as 2 - 3 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. after heyday look , so see to it back frequently .
Related Post : Easy Baked Okra Fries Recipe ( Oven Or Air - Fryer )
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Okra is typically jolly soft to grow , but no plant is completely problem gratuitous . If you run into one of these more common number , my tips below can help you manage it .
Yellow Leaves
Yellowing lady’s-finger leaves can be cause by tearing inconsistency , disease , blighter , and weather fluctuations .
They ’re drought liberal , but will suffer from either extreme dispassionateness or wetness .
Instead , point to irrigate deeply 1 ” per week and leave them to dry out just a little between drinks . Amoisture gaugecan aid you if you have trouble .
Treat blighter as you see them and calculate for sign of disease . Providing shelter from nerveless dips or extreme heat can help your okra plant stomach striking temperature changes without major consequences .
Slow Growing Okra Plant
The most usual causal agent for a irksome get okra plant is the temperature . It will not grow well in anything below 60 ° atomic number 9 ( 15 ° coulomb ) , and really prefers something warm .
It may also be a matter of solitaire . Okra is dull to produce at the beginning of the time of year , and takes off toward mid to belated summer when the heat energy kicks in .
Wilting Leaves
wilt leaves on your okra industrial plant are belike get by fusarium wilt , overwatering , or drouth . This plant does n’t support wet feet or extend periods of bone - teetotal soil .
If half the plant is wilt and yellow , you may be dealing with disease . Dig up and destroy the industrial plant before it can disperse to your other vegetables .
Brown Leaves
brownish leaves , blot , or point are usually make by disease , unconventional tearing , nourishing deficiencies , or cool conditions .
Wait to establish until nighttime temperatures ride out above 60 ° F(15 ° century ) and protect plants withrow coversif unexpected cool weather fall out .
Amend soil with plenty ofcompost , and water on a regular basis so the soil is saturated but not soggy , then countenance it to dry .
FAQs
Is okra easy to grow?
Okra is easy to uprise because it tolerates modest drouth and miserable soils , as long as it has plenty of sun and temperatures high than 70 ° F ( 21 ° speed of light ) .
How long does it take for okra to grow?
How long it contain okra to spring up varies depend on the case , but most diversity average between 50 - 65 days to reach adulthood and be ready to reap .
Does okra come back every year?
Okra is a perennial that can come up back every year in regions that have mild , fond , frost - costless winter , such as in develop zone 10 - 12 .
What is the secret to growing okra?
The secret to growing okra is right planting time and placement . Wait until temperatures are high than 60 ° F(15 ° C ) at nighttime , and plant it in fertile , impersonal dirt where it will experience plenty of direct sun .
Do okra plants need support?
No , okra plants do not need a cage , treillage , stake , or any other kind of reinforcement to produce . If yours becomes marvelous and leggy , then cut back the top to boost bushier more compact growth .
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