Harvest pods when they are tender and immature (3-4 inches long). Keep the area weed free and apply a light fertilization following the first harvest. However, regular irrigation will increase yields. Thin plants to one foot apart after they are up and growing. ![]() Rows should be at least 3 feet apart if you want to walk in between rows. Sow seeds about 2 inches apart and 1 inch deep. Plant okra near other tall crops or on the north end of the garden to avoid shading out other crops. Otherwise, the first of June is a safe planting date. Probabilities for these frost dates are available on the Yavapai County Cooperative Extension web site (ag./yavapai/) under Natural Resources of Yavapai County. For a good fall crop, plant at least 3 months before first fall frost. For best results, plant in spring 2-3 weeks after all danger of frost has passed. Okra thrives after soils have warmed and nighttime temperatures are above 50 degrees F. ‘Annie Oakley is also a compact plant with extra tender pods. A dwarf variety is ‘Dwarf Green Long Pod’ which reaches a mature height of 3 feet. These varieties reach heights of 5 to 6 feet when mature. Varieties recommended by Texas A & M are ‘Lee’, ‘Emerald’, and ‘Clemson Spineless’. Okra seed does not store well so, buy fresh seed each season, or save seed of non-hybrid varieties yourself by allowing a few pods on your best plant to mature. Okra is best grown from seed since it is fairly quick to produce fruit (48 to 55 days after emergence). And now for the good news: okra prefers a soil pH above 6.0 (most of our soils are pH 7.5 to 8.5). Prepare soil as you would for annual crops by incorporating composted organic matter and balanced fertilizer (2-3 pounds of 10-20-10 per 100 sq. However, it does not tolerate excessive moisture or poorly aerated soils. Okra grows best on loams and sandy loam soils, but will produce good yields on heavier soils. It arrived in the Americas (Brazil) in the 1600's, and then spread northward to New Orleans reaching Philadelphia in 1781. From there, okra spread throughout Africa, the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and India. Its cultivation by Egyptians began in the 12th Century BC. Okra is a very attractive plant related to Hibiscus and cotton. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Jeff Schalau, Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources Refertilize with 15-0-14, 8-0-24, or 13-0-44 to encourage regrowth and development of side branches.īy following these guidelines, your fall yield of okra often will exceed that of your spring crops.ĭownload a PDF of Rejuvenating Okra: Producing Two Crops from One Planting, ANR – 1112.Backyard Gardener - Growing Okra - April 29, 2015 Cut back plants using a mower or pruning shears, leaving 6 to 12 inches of each plant above the ground. At this point in production, cutting back or topping your okra will allow plantings to reestablish themselves.Ĭutting back okra allows the plants to rejuvenate to produce a late summer/fall crop. Market price for okra typically declines sharply as well. Yields are considerably greater when okra is grown on polyethylene mulch or mulched with compost or other organic materials.Īs okra plants age through the summer, they tend to top out and produce a declining number of pods. ![]() On average, an acre of okra should produce 200 to 250 30-pound bushels on bare ground when irrigated. Cutting takes longer but produces a cleaner, nicer product. Pods should be harvested when they are 2 1⁄2 to 3 1⁄2 inches long. Most okra cultivars are ready to pick 55 to 60 days after planting, or about 4 to 6 days after flowering.
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