10 Best Companion Plants For Okra
- Cucumbers. Cucumbers love water and good soil just like okra so they will definitely do well together as companions.
- Basil. Herbs like basil can also be a great companion plant to your okra plant. ...
- Melons. ...
- Lettuce. ...
- Tomatoes. ...
- Pepper. ...
- Sunflowers. ...
- Peas. ...
- Eggplants. ...
- Radishes. ...
How to plant okra?
Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site 1 As a warm-weather crop, okra appreciates full sun. 2 Okra is adaptable and will grow in most soils, though it performs best in well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter. 3 Soil should ideally be on the acidic side, with a pH between 5.8 and 7.0.
What is the best fertilizer for okra plants?
Eggplant, peppers and okra are heavy feeders, but they are also picky eaters. They like small amounts of food all season long. Too much nitrogen will produce lots of foliage but not much in the way of fruits. So, before planting, add some organic fertilizer, like dehydrated chicken manure, or any other type of animal manure.
What vegetables can you grow with okra?
Some of the best companion plants to grow with okra are peppers, cucumbers, basil, melons, radish, zinnias, sunflower, peas, and lettuce. Okra is a warm-season vegetable that will do well with other vegetables and flowers.
How much water does okra need?
A member of the mallow family, its flowers are quite showy. Okra will tolerate some drought conditions, but in hot weather, make sure it gets at least an inch of water per week 3. Well-drained soil is also crucial for okra. Some of okra's best garden companions are plants that, like okra, need plenty of water.
See more
What is the best fertilizer for okra?
Okra should be mowed or pruned to 6 to 12 inches above the soil line. Once the plants are cut, gardeners will want to fertilize with a fertilizer that has a 1:2 ratio of nitrogen to potassium, which will encourage new growth and stimulate flower production.
What is the best natural fertilizer for okra?
Compost tea is the best fertilizer for Okra plants. When using in the garden, apply once every two weeks after transplant. Water every transplant with a quarter of a gallon of compost tea, but make sure to soak the leaves a little as you do.
How do you make okra produce more?
3 Ways to Make Your Okra Produce More (Tips)Ensure Optimal Okra Growing Conditions (Sun, Space, Soil, and Water) Sun. Space. Soil. Water.Give Your Okra Plants Enough Nutrients.Plant High Yielding Okra Varieties.
Is Miracle Grow good for okra?
If you are looking for an all-around great option for Okra then I recommend the Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food. This is one of the Best Okra Fertilizers EVER! This fertilizer instantly feeds providing bigger, better Okra. You can apply it every two weeks with a garden feeder.
Is Epsom salt good for okra?
Some people add Epsom salt for okra, but this is not universally recommended. Epsom salts are made out of sulfur and magnesium, two ingredients from which okra can benefit. However, care needs to be taken when it comes to applying Epsom salt for okra, since it can easily kill okra plants when overapplied.
Is coffee grounds good for okra?
Coffee grounds are a suitable organic amendment for growing okra when used directly on the soil or in composted materials. Coffee ground help improve soil structure, or tilth, and augment soil nutrient density when used in combination with other organic amendments.
Why is my okra not producing?
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 do you rejuvenate okra?
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.
What should not be planted next to 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.
Should I fertilize my okra?
Care during the season Cultivate around the okra plants to remove weeds and grass. To avoid damaging the okra roots, pull weeds close to the plants by hand. After the first harvest, apply 1 cup of garden fertilizer for each 10 feet of row.
Does okra need water every day?
Quick Guide to Growing Okra Okra loves the heat and can withstand a dry spell, but do your best to give plants 1 inch of water every week.
Why are my okra leaves turning yellow?
Okra seedlings are also vulnerable to yellow vein mosaic virus, which is a disease transmitted by whiteflies. Plants afflicted with this viral disease will display leaves with a yellow network of thickened veins that may turn completely yellow altogether.
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.
Why is okra so easy to grow?
One reason okra is easy to grow is that it tolerates different types of soil and climates. The most important things are that it gets enough sun, it’s roots don’t remain wet, and that 75 degrees or warmer.
Why do okra seeds take so long to germinate?
Okra seeds take a little longer than other seeds to germinate because of their hard shell. To make them germinate faster, soak the seeds in a glass of water overnight.
What zone is okra grown in?
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. It does especially well in the south in growing zone 7 and zone 8.
Why won't my okra seeds germinate?
Okra seeds won’t germinate if it’s too cold; the seeds will rot in the ground. The most important thing is to plant okra when it’s at least 65 degrees F. To ensure a successful crop, grow okra when the soil is a minimum of 65 degrees when you test the soil to 4″ deep. To do this, get a simple soil thermometer.
Why are my okra seeds not growing?
If you already have some growth, it may be they aren’t getting enough sun. Also, if they are too close to each other or other plants, they may not grow well. Okra needs space to grow well. Ants invaded these okra pods.
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.
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 soil for okra?
Soil should ideally be on the acidic side, with a pH between 5.8 and 7.0.
How to store okra in the freezer?
To store okra, put the uncut and uncooked pods into freezer bags and keep them in the freezer. You can then prepare the okra any way you like throughout the winter months. You can also can okra to have it throughout the winter.
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.
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 are some good plants to grow with okra?
Some of okra's best garden companions are plants that, like okra, need plenty of water. This includes cucumbers, melons, eggplant, and sweet or hot peppers. Cucumbers love water and rich soil, as does okra, so these will do well side by side.
Why are nematodes bad for okra?
But they're detrimental to okra because these tiny creatures like to feed on the young roots of okra plants. Nematode presence can be increased in soil used to grow certain vine crops, like sweet potatoes or squash.
Can you harvest peas before okra?
Your peas will be ready for harvest before the okra plants get really big, so there's no danger of the bigger okra plants crowding the peas. Just remove your pea plants after the last harvest to free up space for the okra to get bigger as the weather gets warmer. The Spruce / K. Dave.
Can okra be grown in shade?
Okra thrives in hot weather, so you may grow it as a shade plant for greens that do well in partial sun (like lettuces, kale and many herbs including parsley, tarragon, chives and cilantro).
Is okra a vegetable?
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is one of those vegetables that seems to inspire either love or hate, and never indifference. It has a texture for being somewhat slimy when cooked, but this can be overcome by roasting or other methods. It's a crucial ingredient in gumbo, so for that reason alone it has star power.
Can cucumbers grow side by side with okra?
Cucumbers love water and rich soil, as does okra, so these will do well side by side. Don't plant too close, as cucumbers also need a large amount of sun to ripen. Pepper plants will repel cabbage worms, which can be a destructive nuisance to okra plants. Melons can be a good okra companion; like cucumbers, they need ample sun and water, ...
Does basil repel okra?
The strong fragrance of basil repels a number of pests that like okra, including flea beetles, stinkbugs, spider mites, aphids and whiteflies. Okra's tall plants, which can grow up to six feet, can also provide some shade for this somewhat tender herb if summer days get hot.