Growing Okra by Wanda Loras
For me, the best meal ever is fried okra, pinto beans with ham hock, fresh sliced tomatoes, fresh corn on the cob, and corn bread. It just doesn’t get any better than that.
Of course, it is best if the vegetables are home grown in order to get to this level of culinary enjoyment.
For okra it is important to work damp not wet soil to a depth of 8 to10 inches. If the soil sticks to your tools it is too wet. For the best yields, prepare your beds in full sunlight two to three weeks after all danger of frost has passed. Apply 2-3 lbs. of 10-10-10 or 15-5-10 fertilizer and work into the top 4” of soil. Plant seeds 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart. Space the rows three feet apart. When okra has grown about one inch, thin out to one foot spacing.
According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, varieties of okra that grow best in Texas are (Compacts: Annie Oakley, Blondy, Prelude, Long Pod Dwarf), (Heirloom: Stewart’s Zeebest), and Cajun Delight, Clemson Spineless, Emerald, Green Best, Lee, Louisiana Green, Burgundy, and Velvet.
When the okra plant is about 2 months old it will produce a large flower. Three to four days after they bloom the pods will be three to four inches long and ready to harvest. After the first harvest apply fertilizer again between the rows. Apply 1 cup for each 10 feet, scratch in lightly and water. To insure your pods will be tender, pick them every 1 to 2 days. This will also help the plants produce more pods. When you see a pod that is too big and tough, pick it and discard it or put it in your compost. The plant energy should go towards making new edible pods instead of making tough pods bigger. However, at the end of okra’s growing season, if you want to save seeds for the next spring, let some pods grow very large. Pick the oversized pods and let them dry. Shell the seeds and keep in a cool dry place.
Although okra does fairly well under dry conditions, it will yield more if you water about every seven to ten days. Sandy soil will require more frequent watering.
Diseases on okra are more severe in cloudy damp weather. Check daily and if applicable treat with Neem oil, sulfur, or other fungicides. Be sure and follow label directions.
If Aphids or Stink bugs are a real problem, treat with insecticide. Malathion for Aphids and Sevin for Stink bugs. Organic options available at garden centers include BT-based insecticides and sulfur. Always follow label cautions, warnings and directions.
I grew up helping to tend a very large garden. Okra played an important role. One year when it was time to start harvesting, I was elected to do the honors. I was so happy my siblings thought I was mature enough to take on the responsibility. Since I was the youngest of eleven, I had no idea what was in store for me. I soon found out why I was so honored. I itched all night. I learned the hard way for sensitive skin it is absolutely necessary to dress appropriately with long pants, long sleeves and gloves. It is a little scratchy to say the least. It was pay back time for my brothers and sisters.