Comments on: Growing Okra

By: Becky

Becky — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:42:50 +0000

This is my first year growing Okra. It does excellent in Las Vegas even when it’s 115 outside. It started out very slow until May, then it grew very fast with a decent harvest almost every other day. This lasted until November. I’m now looking at plants that have so far survived freezing temperatures (Without leaves and fruit of course) and I will continue to observe the plants to see what extremes they can endure. Hopefully I will get a crop from the same plants next season.

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:07:32 +0000

Hi Wayne, I really don’t think that the idea about overwintering okra will work, and even if it did you would probably get better results and more production by starting new plants anyway.

By: Wayne Stoddard

Wayne Stoddard — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:28:22 +0000

Here in No. California, with a mild, non-freeze winter, can okra be wintered over so that the same stalks from this season’s garden produce a new crop next season w/o having to start from seed? Okra has a very deep taproot..
Thanks.

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:59:12 +0000

Hi Jo Ellen, once the okra seed pods are dry you can break them open, shake out the seeds, and store them in a cool, dry spot until it is time to plant them in the garden.

By: Jo Ellen

Jo Ellen — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:26:43 +0000

I was wondering what you have to do to harvest okra seed to use next year in your garden. I have let several okra pods grow and get hard and dry out. Now what do I do?

By: R. L. Howard

R. L. Howard — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:03:50 +0000

To follow up after my okra questions to you, got past the black spots on the leaves (appeared to be ant related), bumpy leaves (do not know but did not seem to cause any major problems), voracious grasshoppers, had a beautiful stand of okra plants with lots of blossoms. Had about 3 weeks of rain and cooler than normal temperature, which slowed down the growth, and succumbed to an early frost! With no control over the weather, things happen! Appreciate your input, Kenny. Will try again next year. Have a question regarding tomatoes now. Is it OK to preserve green tomatoes if they went through 1 night of light frost? Heard this changes the chemistry somewhat and is not a good idea to eat. (Was thinking of canning a green tomato sauce.) Do you think it is safe?

By: Gordon

Gordon — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:18:52 +0000

Hey Kenny! Greetings from sunny Sydney, Australia! I am a novice green-thumb and am growing okra for the first time. Have put them in an area that basil, chilli, and coriander thrive in. The first shoot has appeared so have my fingers crossed. Just want to thank you for all the great advice here and looking forward to watching the okra grow.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:40:50 +0000

To give your okra an early start soak the seeds overnight to soften the hard seed coat. However, don’t soak them longer because they’ll start to sprout and you’ll damage your seed trying to plant them.