
The exteriors will get so tough you can’t even bend the pod or bite into it when the pods are big enough to start harvesting for next year’s seed. Let several fruits on it mature beyond the tender edible stage. Just one plant from each variety of okra that you’re growing can usually deliver an ample supply. Soaking aids moisture absorption and germination. Collecting and Dryingīefore you start collecting, determine which plants had fruits that tasted best at their edible stage.ĭon’t opt for a plant just because you’ve already accidentally allowed all of its pods to get too big, because you won’t know for sure how the edible pods it produced tasted or if they warrant growing again. Prior to planting, soak the okra seeds in water for 12 to 18 hours to soften its hard seed coat. If you don’t have that kind of room, consider isolating one variety by planting a couple in containers you can move a safe distance away once they begin to flower. Plant Disease Identify the stress to the Raspberry pi Prediction plants by an. Serious seed savers who are trying to preserve rare species will grow different types of okra no less than 500 to 1,600 feet apart.īut you should be fine planting each 20 or 30 yards apart, or growing one type in the front yard and a second one in the back. Rover, Image processing, Detection of nutrition deficiencies Rover used to.

Plan to grow just one variety, or give plants of different cultivars plenty of distance so they don’t cross-pollinate. Also consider starting transplants indoors if you’re going to be pressed for time. So be sure to read packets and online catalog descriptions ahead of ordering and select one you can start picking in 50 to 55 days. When you live where the summers are short, some varieties won’t have enough time to form seeds to harvest. Letting the fruits get extra big can take just a few days, or maybe another week or more.

Okra needs warm weather, and typically 50 to 60 days before it produces a harvest. It will keep in the freezer for up to a year.You should also select a type that matures fast enough that you’ll have time to let some pods mature beyond the edible stage. Much longer, and it will begin to deteriorate and lose flavor. Check your soil’s pH level, which should be between 6.5 and 7.5. Plant okra in the same spot only once in four years. Practice crop rotation to reduce the level of disease in the soil. Dispose of plant debris carefully in a landfill, or by burning. It will keep in the fridge for two or three days. Remove infected plants as soon as you notice signs of fusarium wilt. Garden Hoses, Sprinklers & Accessories Garden Tools Lawn & Plant Care. When you have cut a basket of okra, either refrigerate immediately, or wash and allow to dry, then refrigerate. Lamps Mirrors Picture Frames Throw & Decorative Pillows Art Prints. This vegetable is so delicious, it’s well worth a little discomfort. The caps of the okra pods are prickly, but they go into the compost when you cut off the caps of each pod. That takes care of the itching right away. As the plants begin to flower, apply a blossom-boosting fertilizer according to label. When seedlings are 2 inches tall, thin them to 18 inches apart.

Cover and water thoroughly, giving them a deep soaking every four or five days. I usually wear long sleeves, but often use one of those over-the-counter cortisone creams on the back of my hands, when needed. Soak the large seeds in water overnight, and then sow them 1 inch deep in rows that are at least 3 feet apart. The leaves are a bit scratchy, and wherever the plants touch your skin, (even brush against you) you may itch for up to a half-hour afterwards. Note: you don’t “pick” okra you cut it with a sharp knife. The pods on this variety are dark green, measuring 3-5 inches long with a slightly curved shape. This plant reaches up to four feet tall, so it’s not ideal if you want to grow okra in containers.
Okra plant images full#
If you are particularly sensitive, you may even want to wear gloves - I do. Cajun Delight is a hybrid okra plant that takes up to 55 days to reach full maturity. Once the plants become large, you will probably want to wear long sleeves when cutting the okra. Watch Out, Parts of These Plants Will Make You Itch
