Okra questions

rschack 4/9/2012, 10:32 pm

I have started some okra from seeds. I started four seeds in the same container at the same time. One of the seedlings is significantly taller than the others. Should I separate them into different containers because I don't want the short ones to be too far away from the light? Also when I the best time to transplant them outdoors?

littlejo 4/9/2012, 11:43 pm

I'd separate before they get too big. Okra likes it hot, so plant outside only when nitetime temps are at least 65 all the time.

Jo

**camprn** 4/10/2012, 7:00 am

My okra seeds are taking forever to sprout. sawing logs

rschack 4/12/2012, 10:36 am

Do you think it would be a good idea to plant them outside around the same time as tomatos?

**camprn** 4/12/2012, 10:48 am

rschack wrote:Do you think it would be a good idea to plant them outside around the same time as tomatos?

That's my plan. It is my understanding that okra, just like tomatoes and aubergine are great lovers of heat. sunny

rod champion 4/12/2012, 11:23 am

Okra does like it hot.. and hot nights..

I have never " beat the Okra" - that means prune the leaves.

Will someone please tell me how to prune the OKRA.

Your help is appreciated..

Rod

littlejo 4/12/2012, 6:40 pm

I've never heard of 'beat the okra'. Why would you want to prune okra?

As for planting, if you want to plant and it's not hot enough outside, put down some black plastic and plant in a hole in the plastic. This works for any plant that likes it hot, (tomatoes+Sweet potatoes)

**sanderson** 7/22/2014, 10:39 pm

I was wondering if okra needed to be topped like peppers. I guess not. ??

**AtlantaMarie** 7/23/2014, 8:04 am

We've never topped ours.

**sanderson** 8/22/2014, 1:23 pm

Good thing I didn't top them!!!

While we were gone:

I've been concerned about the large leaf stalks dying and falling off. And some of the top new leaves kind of look like MJ Embarassed

(not shown) and others are wrinkly (shown). I was going to ask for advice but then I looked at some of Rooster's older photos and his newer leaves were wrinkly, also. My plant with new life growing from fallen stem buds:

The flowers (2) this morning are so pretty. But, here are my questions? Did that okra pod start off as a flower? I have been gone and I don't know the process. I see what look like small flower buds. Are they self pollinating? How in the world did I get that beautiful 4' pod?

Sorry for dumb questions. But, I've found something that actually seems to thrive in my garden and in this awful heat.

Denese 8/22/2014, 1:31 pm

Yes, the okra pod starts off as that flower. The flower will open, then shrivel and fall off. The pod is what's left. My okra hasn't done squat this year. I only have 6 plants, but they're still really small. We've had a rather coolish summer, so I'm going to blame it on that. I have picked about 5 pods, but nothing like I had hoped. Plus, I think that bed really needs amended with more compost than I used at the beginning of the season. Yours look really healthy!

yolos 8/22/2014, 1:51 pm

Don't let that pod get too big cause it will get tuff.

Denese 8/22/2014, 4:44 pm

yolos wrote:Don't let that pod get too big cause it will get tuff.

+1

**AtlantaMarie** 8/23/2014, 10:26 am

Very true! You can tell the difference between ripe & over-ripe when you cut them. They even SOUND different! And they don't soften by cooking in a stew.

About the length of a finger - maybe a little longer - is what I shoot for.

martha 8/23/2014, 12:08 pm

With the red variety I am growing, you can also tell by color. Once it starts to get dull and a little faded, it's too late. They turn green when you cook them though - such a shame!

**sanderson** 8/23/2014, 12:40 pm

One of my questions was open or closed pollination. Should I get out my paint brushes?

Denese 8/23/2014, 1:52 pm

Okra doesn't need bees (or paint brushes) to produce pods. It takes care of itself. Laughing

**sanderson** 8/23/2014, 2:18 pm

Thanks Denese. Very Happy

Pollinator 8/26/2014, 3:04 am

Denese wrote:Okra doesn't need bees (or paint brushes) to produce pods. It takes care of itself.

I'm skeptical of this. The bees certainly love my okra.

Denese 8/26/2014, 7:02 am

Pollinator wrote:
Denese wrote:Okra doesn't need bees (or paint brushes) to produce pods. It takes care of itself.

I'm skeptical of this. The bees certainly love my okra.

Bees definitely love okra, but okra blossoms have both male and female pollen in each blossom. So even though the bees aren't necessary, they can cross pollinate different varieties, so if you have more than one variety, you need to take precautions.

Here is a really good article that explains this: http://ithottam.com/okra-pollination/

**sanderson** 8/26/2014, 12:34 pm

Denese, the site is not available.

Denese 8/26/2014, 1:40 pm

That's really weird. I was just looking at it this morning, and I checked it before I posted it. Hmmmm... thinking

Denese 8/26/2014, 5:12 pm

Okay, I've been doing more research on this (since it's too blasted hot and humid to be outside today), and have discovered that although the bees aren't absolutely necessary, they do help the process along, so the harvest is higher because of them. The following article (assuming the link works) explains how to get a better harvest if you don't have the bees. As it turns out, it's with a paint brush. Hope this helps, and I apologize to the bees. Embarassed

http://backyardchickenlady.blogspot.com/2013/07/hand-pollinating-part-2-tomatoes-and.html

Marc Iverson 8/26/2014, 7:36 pm

Okra is a nightshade, isn't it?

I've read that with tomatoes, another nightshade, taste is directly related to how many seeds get fertilized, and the more that do, the better the taste. So even if your plant is making tomatoes without pollinators, you'd still benefit from having them visit. Perhaps it's similar with okra?

**sanderson** 8/27/2014, 4:26 am

Denese, That was a good article. I'll try the paint brush tomorrow.

The author gardens in hot Arizona and her blog may be valuable for those who live in hot and dry areas (like me) Very Happy

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