Other popular varieties include the Annie Oakley II, which also has spineless pods and can be harvested in 48-52 days. This variety is ready to harvest in about 55-60 days. The large pale yellow blossoms with deep crimson centers, look strikingly like its “cousin” the hibiscus flower. Here in America, gumbo refers to the spicy rue-based soup that contains stewed okra.īy far, the most popular variety of okra is the Clemson Spineless, so named because it doesn’t have spines or bristles on its leaves and stems, as other varieties do. In locations outside of the United States, this vegetable which is rich in calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin C, and fiber, may be referred to as “gumbo.” The term gumbo is believed to be a corruption of the word quillobo, which is the native name for the plant in the African nations of Congo and Angola. While there is some debate as to okra’s origin, most will agree it came from Africa, possibly Ethiopia. Okra Varieties Clemson Spineless growing in a container in my front yard. I’ve grown this gumbo staple with good results in pots ranging from 11″ to 14″ in diameter and 10″ to 12″ in depth. While you won’t need a gigantic one, the larger the pot, the more productive the plant. The size of the container is also important. But okra can thrive in containers, as well! The Key to Container SuccessĪs with any plant, the key to successfully growing okra in containers is using quality soil.Okra appreciates soil that is rich in organic matter that drains well and has a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Thus, one might think this vegetable requires a traditional garden row in order to flourish. The seeds will shell easily from the pods.Some think of okra as the “Jolly Green Giant” of the garden because the lobe-leafed member of the mallow family (related to the hibiscus) can reach heights of six feet or more in areas with a long growing season. Okra seed is easily saved for next season by leaving some of the last pods on the plant until they get very large. Some varieties to consider are Burgundy, Cajun Delight, Clemson Spineless, Annie Oakley, Emerald, Green Best, Lee, Louisiana Green, and, an heirloom variety, Stewart’s Zeebest. Okra can be stored in the refrigerator for about five days. The optimum conditions for storing okra are a moist environment and temperatures of 45 to 50 degrees F. Do not allow pods to mature on the plant because this will slow production and cause tough, fibrous pods. Okra grows very fast therefore, it must be harvested every few days. Round-podded okra varieties remain tender at larger pod sizes and are good to use for slicing and freezing. Larger okra pods will become too tough and fibrous. The okra pods will be ready to pick 3 to 4 days later.įrom seed to harvest is about 60 to 70 days, when pods are 2- to 3-inches long. Okra plants will produce large flowers about 2 months after planting. Sandy soils will need water more often than clay soils. However, if you water the plants every 7 to 10 days, the yield will be higher. Okra will do fairly well under dry conditions. Do not over-use nitrogen, since it can cause excessive vegetative growth with poor yield. Additional side-dressing may be needed if heavy rains occur. Without a soil test, a general fertilizer recommendation is to apply 2 pounds of 10-10-10 per 100 square feet and make two side-dressings of 3 ounces of 10-10-10 per 100 feet of row, beginning when plants are 6- to 8-inches tall and again two to three weeks later. When seedlings are several inches tall, thin the row so the remaining plants are spaced 1.5- to 2-feet apart. Space rows 3-feet apart sow seeds 1-inch deep and 4- to 6-inches apart within the row. To enhance germination, soak okra seeds in water for several hours or overnight before sowing. Okra can be established by sowing seeds directly into the garden. At this time of the year, we have certainly reached optimum growing conditions.
Only plant when soils have warmed up to at least 65 degrees F at a 4-inch depth. Align the rows in an east/west direction to capture maximum sunlight.
Full grown okra plant full#
Okra does best when planted in a full sun area. Okra can tolerate a pH range from 5.8 to 6.8. Okra prefers well-drained, sandy soils that are high in organic matter, but it can be grown in a wide variety of soils. This vegetable is both easy and fun to grow and can be used in many different culinary dishes and for dried flower arrangements. It is considered a warm season vegetable and is a member of the Mallow family, which includes plants such as cotton and hibiscus. Okra is a Southern staple in the home garden and at the dinner table and can be grown throughout our area. Still looking for that summer-grown vegetable that can tolerate our heat and humidity as well as be tasty? Take another look at okra.
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