![]() Some okra varieties have pods with sharp spines, so protect your hands with gloves when picking them. Keep a close eye on the okra pods when they start to form because they’ll be ready to clip from plants as soon as they’re firm, brightly colored and about 3-4 inches long (or longer depending on the variety). Plants in containers will dry out quickly so water several times a week during hot weather and apply a balanced fertilizer about once a month. Plant 1 okra transplant or 3-5 seeds in the container and thin to the strongest one. Fill containers with a good quality potting soil. Choose at least a 5-gallon container or plant in a half barrel to match the size of the mature plant to the size of the container. Growing okra in containersĬhoose an okra variety that’s meant to grow in small spaces, such as a dwarf or compact variety like Baby Bubba, Annie Oakley or Blondy. Wait for temperatures to stabilize, reduce fertilizer applications and be sure to give plants enough water. If you see white spots start to form on leaves, clip them off and dispose of them.Ī common issue with okra is when plants flower, but don’t produce pods because of poor pollination, too much nitrogen fertilizer, lack of enough sunlight, not enough water or big temperature fluctuations. Prevent powdery mildew with wide spacing between plants. ![]() Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that shows up as a white coating on okra leaves when humidity is high and there’s not enough room between plants for air to circulate. Look closely to find these worms, hand pick and dispose of them in a bucket of soapy water. Holes in leaves could mean plants are under attack from corn earworms or cabbage loopers. ![]() Use strong blasts of a garden hose over and under leaves to wash them away. Inspect plants every few days to look for curled leaves, a sign of aphids. Pull weeds by hand to preserve the roots and then mulch to prevent weeds from sprouting. Weeds may be the top garden pest for okra until plants start to grow up and out. Mulching around plants will help regulate soil temperature and hold in moisture. Okra plants need consistent moisture to grow and set pods, so plan on a deep watering at least once a week, especially if the weather is dry. Water deeply to ensure good moisture to encourage deep roots. Sprinkle the dry fertilizer on top of the soil about 6-8 inches away from the base of the plants rake in and water. Amend the garden bed with high-quality compost or other organic soil amendment before planting.įertilize with a balanced (10-10-10) organic fertilizer right after thinning seedlings and when you see okra pods start to form. Okra is the kind of plant that prefers a fertile, well-drained soil. Okra loves hot weather and plants can take off quickly. Requirements for growing okraīecause okra is a tropical plant, choose a full sun spot for planting. If you planted from seeds, you’ll need to thin plants as they start to grow and allow space for good air circulation to prevent problems as they grow. Once plants start to grow, add an organic mulch (like straw) to help maintain soil moisture and keep down weeds. Set up a watering system at planting time, either drip irrigation or a soaker hose. If planting okra transplants, space plants about 6-12 inches apart (dwarf varieties) or 24 (or more) inches apart for taller varieties, but be sure to follow the planting instructions for the variety you’ve chosen. For smaller (dwarf) varieties, you’ll need at least 24 inches between rows tall, spreading varieties may need as much as 60 inches between rows. The space between rows depends on the type of okra you planted. You can also direct sow seeds in the garden by planting them ½ inch deep, and space about 2 inches apart in the row. When planting from seeds, soaking them overnight helps with sprouting Start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting or direct sow in the garden. Here’s how to germinate heat loving seeds in your Instant Pot! Planting okra seeds If you’re in a more northerly, cooler climate, wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees before planting seeds or okra transplants. You can plant okra from seeds or transplants, depending on how quickly you want to get growing. Red Velvet is a compact 5-foot tall plant for containers and small gardens 55-60. Hill Country Red is an heirloom variety that grows long pods on 6-foot plants 64 days. ![]() Does your homeowners association prevent you from growing food in the front yard? What if they never even KNEW? My ebook, The Edible Front Yard Garden will show you how!īurgundy is an heirloom variety with attractive red stems and pods on 5-foot tall plants 50-60 days to maturity.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |