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Growing okra3/1/2023 ‘Before cooking, wipe the fruit with a cloth to remove all the spines that may cause allergies,’ adds Omelchenko. If you produce more okra than you can use, then freeze it to use for cooking over winter. Don't wait for a single day to do a big okra harvest or you'll be disappointed with your yields.’ 'Sometimes, this means that you are picking just a handful of pods each day, but it is important to pick pods whenever they are ready. ‘For this reason, you should consistently harvest okra pods throughout the growing season. ‘The more okra pods you pick, the more the plant produces,’ says Kuthy. If you can give okra the right growing conditions and pick it as soon as it is ready, you should find you have a bumper harvest. Overripe fruits aren’t edible.’ In general, you’re looking for them to be tender and measure 2-5 inches long. ‘Use a knife to cut off fruits when they become deep green. ‘The fruiting season starts two months after planting and lasts until the frosts begin,’ says Omelchenko. (Image credit: Getty Images) When to harvest okraĪn important part of knowing how to grow okra is to harvest it at the right time to capture the best flavor of the pods. ‘You will also want to make sure that you supplement your soil with compost or aged manure to ensure adequate nutrition for the plant.’ ‘Look for a dwarf variety that doesn't grow above 5 feet tall,’ says AJ Rains, founder of Gardening Abundance (opens in new tab). The variety of okra you choose will also make a difference to the crop’s success. ‘I've tried growing okra in containers and I've learned that they need large containers (at least 5 gallon or larger) and a steady flow of nutrients.’ ‘Okra is a hungry plant whose growth is easily restricted by pot size,’ says Kuthy. You must also avoid damaging the ball of soil when potting the plant.’Ĭontainer size is key to the success of learning how to grow okra in containers. ‘Place a layer of drainage material at the bottom, and while watering, soak the soil all the way down but avoid overwatering and waterlogging. Therefore, make sure to choose a narrow, deep container,’ says Omelchenko. ‘Okra features a tap-root system, so its main root grows deep into the soil. Okra makes a good addition to your vegetable garden container ideas, and this is often a necessity if you are growing the plant in a greenhouse. If your local summers aren’t reliably warm, then it's best to grow okra in a greenhouse. ‘For colder climates and shorter seasons, seeds should be started indoors about a month before your zone's last frost date and transplanted outdoors when temperatures are consistently above 60☏ (15☌).’ ‘For warm climates, start okra seeds in the spring when temperatures are consistently around 60☏ (15☌) both day and night. ‘Okra is a hot weather crop – meaning it prefers warm soil and lots of sun,’ says Kuthy. The key to learning how to grow okra from seed is to time it correctly, and not to start them off too early. (Image credit: Getty Images) When to grow okra It takes from around 60 days for okra plants to reach maturity, at which point you can begin to harvest the pods.‘The plant’s stem is covered with tiny spines that can cause irritation, so wear clothes with long sleeves and gloves when caring for the plant.’ ‘Remove laterals from the plant, as they bear little fruit, shade the main stem, and make the care routine more complicated,’ says Julia Omelchenko, botanist expert for the NatureID (opens in new tab) app.However, avoid overwatering okra, as this could cause root rot – look out for the lower part of the seedling turning black. ‘Okra needs plenty of water, so make sure to give it a good soaking once a week – especially if you’re growing it in soil that doesn’t hold moisture well,’ says Hyland.To do this, select the weaker seedlings and cut them off at the base. Once the seedlings have reached 3-4 inches tall, thin them to 2-3 feet apart.There are some fantastic vegetable garden trellis ideas to help maximize your home harvest. Okra can grow as high as 6ft, so put in support at the planting stage.‘Sow the seeds half an inch deep in rows 18-36 inches apart,’ says Lindsey Hyland, founder of Urban Organic Yield (opens in new tab).‘Add compost and an all-around fertilizer to prep the area before planting and again mid-season for a boost.’ ‘Okra does well in poor soil, even with lots of clay provided it drains,’ says Jemison. Rake your soil to a fine tilth before planting your seeds.You can sow okra seeds straight from the packet, but to improve the seed germination rate, first soak them in water for a few hours.‘Your biggest job with okra is keeping up with the harvests before the bountiful pods get too large and tough to be enjoyed.’
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