Any of you guys grow Okra? I am giving it a go this year and the seeds all germinated, and they have done nothing since! Are they the worlds slowest growing plant, or am I doing something wrong??
Yes, they do seem to grow slowly, at least here in Wisconsin. Have patience, they'll get there. I never got much yield off of my plants, maybe 1-2 pods per day per plant. But they're unique looking plants in the northern garden, and I love them pickled.
EJ, okra loves hot weather. The soil temps have to be high and also the day and night temperatures. If you are still having cool nights it will not grow good. Here is a site that might help: http://hort-devel-nwrec.hort.oregonstate.edu/okra.html
Okra is definitely a hot climate plant. Here in north Texas you put the seeds in the ground and stand back cause they will get to be a 4ft x 3 ft plant in what seems like no time at all. Typical days from seedling to harvest is 52-56 days but then that is in the south where temps are already in the 70's nighttime and almost 90 daytime.
I agree with Toni. Infact okras are easy to grow and they bear fruit easily so long as they get a lot of sun .
Hiyah EJ... The folks here have said it already... "it is a plant that lurves hot weather". If you start these out in small pots in your greenhouse they might do better---or maybe you DID start them off in a greenhouse. Some plants can be helped-along with things like a heated propagater or what I use: a heating pad placed under the seeding tray or propagator.. Of course at some point they have to be planted out, thus the sowing time is important and you can calculate when they will germinate and be big enough to place out. Sowing close to June is a good idea so that you can set them out in the the first couple of weeks (of June). Have you ever tried okra? it's quite tasty, but many people say that one must have an aquired taste. They can be a bit slimey too, unless you cook them in tempura batter or something like that. Success, miss.
A tip for when you pick okra. It's really itchy. Wear gloves and long sleeves. The plant isn't prickly...just kinda hairy... and you have to stick arms and all in to harvest sometimes. But it is soooo worth it. I even like the young pods raw.
Pick okra before the pods get to long or else they will be tough eating. If i remember correctly, we picked them when they were about 3-4 inches long. Cut them bite size, batter with flour that is salted and peppered. Fry until crunchy (; Mmmmmmmmmm . I dont know how to pickle them but I personally dont like them that way.
Thanks for all the info folks. They are in my greenhouse, but still growing very slowely. We have had a chilly snap though, so hopefully now the days have warmed up again they will march on. I would be happy to just get a handful of fruits in total! I have been told that to see them flower is a spectacle. I shall try to remember to take some photos over the weekend and post for you to see.
EJ, I am growing okra in South Dakota. The folks here think I'm strange! Mine are growing very slowly as well. Patience is a virtue, right? I like them sliced, covered with cornmeal mix and fried in a black (cast iron) skillet until crunchy. Yum, Yum. I will also freeze some for use this winter when I make gumbo. Good luck with yours and keep us posted on the progress. Steph
I have Okra in our Minnesota garden, doing well, it;s parsnips that I believe take the prize for s-l-o-w growing We like to push the ZONE envelope, here in this area we are growing along with the Okra...cotton and Tobacco! We get alot of folks driving by...very slowly and a few stop...standing by the cotton, telling us.. "you can't grow cotton in Minnesota" LOL
