Okra is a nutritious vegetable, that's rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C, and other vitamins and nutrients. Okra is a flowering vegetable plant known for its edible seed pods.
Okra plants come in all different shapes and sizes. Some grow almost straight up, and can reach heights as high as 10 feet tall. Others may never exceed four feet tall, but are bushy and have a larger diameter.
Okra is typically a hot-season plant, preferring temperatures around, and exceeding, 75-80F. Okra should be planted in well-drained soil and in an area where it will receive full sun.
With most varieties, you'll want to plant the okra seeds to a depth of about 1/2 inch. Most varieties should be planted 12-18 inches between plants and between rows. However, some bushy varieties of okra may need upwards of 36 inches between rows.
Most okra needs a soil temperature of at least 60F, but higher temperatures are recommended for growth. As such, you definitely won't want to plant this until well after your last expected frost of the year. As I said before, okra is a hot-season plant. It can withstand temperatures up in the 90s and still be just fine!
Okra can also be started indoors, about 4-6 weeks before your last expected frost, then transplanted outside once the soil temperatures are high enough.
Okra plants typically need at least 1-2 inches of water per week, either from rainfall or supplemental watering. Drip irrigation can also work great for growing okra plants, especially in areas that are hot and dry.
Different varieties of okra are ready to pick and different lengths but the average length you'll want to go for is anywhere from 3-4 inches long, depending on what your use for them is. For example, if you're using them for pickling, you might even want them a little shorter (2-3 inches). Basically, though, you want to pick the okra when they're still tender. If you let them get too big, they will start to get "woody" and tough to eat.
It's always recommended to use either a sharp knife or a sharp pair of scissors to cut the okra pods from the stems. This is to help prevent tearing he stems too far back on the plant, and also can help prevent some diseases that come from tearing the okra pods off the stems.
Okra has many uses such as frying, sautéing, grilling, roasting, boiling, pickling, and some people even eat it raw. It's also widely used in soups and stews.
I actually talk about some of my uses for okra in this thread: Okra and its versatility
Certain varieties of okra even have edible flowers, which some people batter and fry, similar to squash blooms.
Okra plants come in all different shapes and sizes. Some grow almost straight up, and can reach heights as high as 10 feet tall. Others may never exceed four feet tall, but are bushy and have a larger diameter.
Where to plant
Okra is typically a hot-season plant, preferring temperatures around, and exceeding, 75-80F. Okra should be planted in well-drained soil and in an area where it will receive full sun.
How to plant
With most varieties, you'll want to plant the okra seeds to a depth of about 1/2 inch. Most varieties should be planted 12-18 inches between plants and between rows. However, some bushy varieties of okra may need upwards of 36 inches between rows.
Most okra needs a soil temperature of at least 60F, but higher temperatures are recommended for growth. As such, you definitely won't want to plant this until well after your last expected frost of the year. As I said before, okra is a hot-season plant. It can withstand temperatures up in the 90s and still be just fine!
Okra can also be started indoors, about 4-6 weeks before your last expected frost, then transplanted outside once the soil temperatures are high enough.
Watering
Okra plants typically need at least 1-2 inches of water per week, either from rainfall or supplemental watering. Drip irrigation can also work great for growing okra plants, especially in areas that are hot and dry.
Harvesting
Different varieties of okra are ready to pick and different lengths but the average length you'll want to go for is anywhere from 3-4 inches long, depending on what your use for them is. For example, if you're using them for pickling, you might even want them a little shorter (2-3 inches). Basically, though, you want to pick the okra when they're still tender. If you let them get too big, they will start to get "woody" and tough to eat.
It's always recommended to use either a sharp knife or a sharp pair of scissors to cut the okra pods from the stems. This is to help prevent tearing he stems too far back on the plant, and also can help prevent some diseases that come from tearing the okra pods off the stems.
Uses
Okra has many uses such as frying, sautéing, grilling, roasting, boiling, pickling, and some people even eat it raw. It's also widely used in soups and stews.
I actually talk about some of my uses for okra in this thread: Okra and its versatility
Certain varieties of okra even have edible flowers, which some people batter and fry, similar to squash blooms.