

‘Before cooking, wipe the fruit with a cloth to remove all the spines that may cause allergies,’ adds Omelchenko. If you produce more okra than you can use, then freeze it to use for cooking over winter. Don't wait for a single day to do a big okra harvest or you'll be disappointed with your yields.’ 'Sometimes, this means that you are picking just a handful of pods each day, but it is important to pick pods whenever they are ready. ‘For this reason, you should consistently harvest okra pods throughout the growing season. ‘The more okra pods you pick, the more the plant produces,’ says Kuthy. If you can give okra the right growing conditions and pick it as soon as it is ready, you should find you have a bumper harvest. Overripe fruits aren’t edible.’ In general, you’re looking for them to be tender and measure 2-5 inches long. ‘Use a knife to cut off fruits when they become deep green. ‘The fruiting season starts two months after planting and lasts until the frosts begin,’ says Omelchenko.
HULLS NOT COMING OFF OKRA SEEDLINGS HOW TO
(Image credit: Getty Images) When to harvest okraĪn important part of knowing how to grow okra is to harvest it at the right time to capture the best flavor of the pods. ‘You will also want to make sure that you supplement your soil with compost or aged manure to ensure adequate nutrition for the plant.’ ‘Look for a dwarf variety that doesn't grow above 5 feet tall,’ says AJ Rains, founder of Gardening Abundance. The variety of okra you choose will also make a difference to the crop’s success. ‘I've tried growing okra in containers and I've learned that they need large containers (at least 5 gallon or larger) and a steady flow of nutrients.’ ‘Okra is a hungry plant whose growth is easily restricted by pot size,’ says Kuthy. You must also avoid damaging the ball of soil when potting the plant.’Ĭontainer size is key to the success of learning how to grow okra in containers. ‘Place a layer of drainage material at the bottom, and while watering, soak the soil all the way down but avoid overwatering and waterlogging. Therefore, make sure to choose a narrow, deep container,’ says Omelchenko. ‘Okra features a tap-root system, so its main root grows deep into the soil. Okra makes a good addition to your vegetable garden container ideas, and this is often a necessity if you are growing the plant in a greenhouse. If your local summers aren’t reliably warm, then it's best to grow okra in a greenhouse. ‘For colder climates and shorter seasons, seeds should be started indoors about a month before your zone's last frost date and transplanted outdoors when temperatures are consistently above 60☏ (15☌).’

‘For warm climates, start okra seeds in the spring when temperatures are consistently around 60☏ (15☌) both day and night. ‘Okra is a hot weather crop – meaning it prefers warm soil and lots of sun,’ says Kuthy. The key to learning how to grow okra from seed is to time it correctly, and not to start them off too early. (Image credit: Getty Images) When to grow okra


