How to grow Okra?

Okra grows best in hot weather and in this country it is most popular in the Southeastern states. It can also be grown in cooler parts of the country if treated in the same way as the tomato.

Okra History

This relative of cotton appears to have originated in the area between Egypt and Ethiopia (though no evidence of its use by ancient Egyptians has been found). It is an important ingredient in African cooking and is also popular in India. It probably came to America with the French as it is most commonly associated with the cooking of Louisiana.

Soil Preference

PH (min/max): 6.0 - 8.0
PH Ideal (min/max): 6.8 - 7.2

Okra is a vigorous and fairly greedy plant, so the soil should be rich in all nutrients. It should also be well-drained and have a fairly neutral pH (Okra doesn't like acidic soil).

How to care for Okra?

Okra isn't difficult to grow, so long as it has hot weather (two months above 85 degrees), a fertile soil and a steady supply of water.

Okra must have a steady supply of water at all times. It shouldn't be too wet, however, as the plants are prone to fungus diseases when growing in cool moist conditions.

Okra is a hungry plant and needs plenty of nutrients for best growth (it especially loves nitrogen). If your soil isn't very fertile give them a liquid feed every 2 to 3 weeks.

Seed Viability: 4 - 5 Years

Germination Percentage: 50.0

Okra will self-pollinate if no other plants are growing nearby. However, the flowers are very attractive to bees and if any other okra is growing within a mile, they will probably be cross-pollinated.

For this reason, you should only grow one variety at a time, or you must isolate the plants (in a cage, by bagging, or by distance). To ensure genetic variability you should save the seed from at least 5 plants. Of course you should also select the best plants to produce seed.

The fruit will take about 4 or 5 weeks to fully ripen (and the plants may well stop producing new fruits). The dry pods are even more irritating than the green pods, so wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting.

Separate the seeds from the dry pods and dry thoroughly before storage.

Sun: min. 6 hours daily

Okra is a tropical plant and needs full sun

Conditions:Warm, Hot

Season:Short Season, Long Season

Okra freezes well, just wash the pods, put them in freezer bags (either whole of sliced) and freeze. Some people blanch them first by putting them in boiling water for 3 - 4 minutes.

Storage Req: Freezer
Storage Temp: 32°F
Storage Length: 1-180 days

Okra pods are at their best when only 2-3" long, but these don't keep for more than 2-3 days (they are best eaten the same day). Larger pods can be stored in the fridge for up to a week in a plastic bag (they will eventually be damaged by temperatures 45 degrees F).

Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 2-7 days

Okra pods can be dried to preserve them. Their flavor is quite different from the fresh pods, but it is still good.

Storage Req: Dry
Storage Temp: 60-70°F
Storage Length: days

Canned and pickled okra is an excellent option for long-term storage.

Storage Req: Canning
Storage Temp: 55-65°F
Storage Length: 1-360 days

Problems

Skin Irritation

Some people develop a contact dermatitis while handling okra; avoid the itchiness by wearing a long-sleeved shirt and gloves.

Okra Types

Burgundy

Burgundy Okra has green leaves with burgundy stems, leaf ribs, and branches. The burgundy-colored 6 to 8" long pods turn green when cooked. They are a fast growing crop under hot growing conditions. Needs warm nights.

Okra

Bushy shrub with maple like leaves which produces slender green pods. Okra is a highly productive plant. This type has a spine, unlike the Clemson type which is spineless.

Clemson

This spineless variety of okra is the most popular. The 4 to 5 foot tall plants produce medium-green pods measuring 3 to 9" long. Clemson 80 is earlier and higher yielding than Clemson Spineless. They are a fast growing crop under good growing conditions.

Pests

Gophers
Leafhoppers
Leafminers
Nematodes
Aphids
European Corn Borer
Japanese Beetle
Stink Bug

Diseases

Anthracnose
Rust
Fusarium Wilt
Damping Off
Powdery Mildew

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