Best tips to grow up okra plants

1. Germination:

 Okra seeds can take 4 to 12 days to germinate, so patience is required.

2. Transplanting Sensitivity: 

Okra does not like transplanting, so it's best to minimize root disturbance.

3. Pot Size for Seedlings:

 If starting okra indoors in early spring, use large pots to grow seedlings, allowing for transplanting without disturbing the roots.

• Okra is a summer crop that should be started from seeds 2-3 weeks before the last frost.
• Select the best seeds from larger okra plants.
• Cover the seeds with half an inch of soil and water them.
• Okra seeds prefer temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Germination:

If your area is too cold, use heat mats under trays to help okra seeds germinate effectively.

5. Indoor Starting:

Start okra seeds indoors in trays just two to three weeks before the last expected frost date.

Transplanting:

• Transplant the okra seedlings outdoors only after the danger of frost has completely passed, ideally at least two weeks after the last frost date.
• Okra seedlings can be transplanted or seeds directly sown in the garden at least two weeks after the last frost.
• Ensure evening temperatures are above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, as okra thrives in warm weather.
• Maintain a plant spacing of two feet apart.

Sunlight Requirements:

Okra loves full sun and performs best with extended periods of direct sunlight.

Optimal Location:

Choose a planting site that receives 12 to 16 hours of daylight during the summer to ensure optimal growth and pod production.

Temperature Considerations:

Okra thrives in warm temperatures, typically between 75 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and can produce consistently even in hot, dry conditions.

• Okra thrives in hot weather and regions with significant heat, such as Arizona and Texas.
• Okra plants perform exceptionally well in these hot regions.
• Fertilization is crucial for okra, as it loves organic matter, especially manure (commoner, horse, or chicken manure).
• Adding manure to the soil before planting is recommended for optimal growth.
• Okra plants thrive with consistent moisture;
•  keep the soil moist at all times for a good yield of vegetables.
• While okra can tolerate short dry spells (around a day), prolonged dryness should be avoided.
• Watering is especially crucial when temperatures exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent harm to the plants.
• Okra thrives in temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
• High temperatures lead to abundant flowers and okra production.
• Consistent soil moisture and daily watering are crucial for successful okra growth in hot climates.
• Okra plants require water, but the amount depends on various factors.
• These factors include the type of soil and the regional temperature.
• A separate blog was created to provide detailed guidance on watering frequency based on these elements.

Soil Moisture:

 Keep the soil consistently moist for healthy okra growth.

Harvesting Timing: 

Pick okra when it is tender, as waiting even a day or two can make it woody and difficult to eat.

Picking Technique: 

• There's an "art" to picking okra to ensure optimal tenderness.
• Okra that is "past its prime" and "very woody" should not be picked.
• Okra that is "a little bit younger" but has reached a certain size can be picked.
• Okra that is "too young to pick" should be left to grow.
• The ideal time to start picking okra is when it is about "two and a half inches long."
• Okra that has passed its prime can be left to go to seed if time for picking is limited.
• However, as summer progresses, it's recommended to "snip out" the okra.
• This prevents the plant from producing an excessive amount of seed okra.

Okra Size and Quality:

A specific okra is identified as "really nice" and approximately three and a half inches long.

Maturity and Harvesting:

Some okra are described as "too young," while others are "just about ready to open" or will be "ready to pick in about a day or two" or "four to five days."

Plant Developments:

The transcript also mentions "flowers that are burning" and "new okra forming" with "new birds coming in."

• Okra flowers are attractive to bees and ants.
• Okra plants generally don't attract many pests.
• Aphids are a significant pest for okra, and ants are often associated with them because ants "farm" aphids.
• Ants can be observed on okra plants, moving up the stalks to the flowers or directly attacking the okra itself.
• Mix one tablespoon of neem oil and one tablespoon of pure Castile soap into one gallon (approximately 3.7 liters) of water.
• Spray your okra plants with this mixture.
• Apply the spray once a week or once every two weeks to eliminate aphids.
• The speaker also mentions a separate blog for more details on aphid control.
• Pruning involves opening up the plant to allow it to receive more sunlight.
• This can be achieved by pruning leaves growing inside the plant.
• Additionally, prune leaves at the bottom of the plant to reduce disease and pest pressure.
• The overall goal is to increase sunlight exposure for the plant.
• The blog was made at the end of the okra growing season (fall) to demonstrate the size of the plants and how to grow them.
• Even in fall, new okra flowers are still emerging, and the plants are continuing to produce okra.
• The blog aims to show how to cultivate okra so that it can be enjoyed throughout the summer.
• Okra can be harvested until the first frost, which in California is around late November or early December.
• Seeds can be saved from mature okra plants.
• To save seeds, allow a few okra pods (2-5) to remain on the plant and mature fully.
• Mature okra pods will produce seeds that can be harvested.
• Allow a few okra pods to remain on the plant until they turn woody and brown.
• These pods will contain a large number of mature okra seeds.
• Carefully extract the seeds, as they can easily drop out of the pods.
• The extracted seeds can then be saved and planted in the following year.