At this stage, the pods are still tender. Okra should be ready to harvest about 60 to 70 days after planting when pods are 2 to 3 inches long. Organic mulches (2- to 3-inch layer) conserve moisture as well as control weeds. Cultivation should be shallow to prevent damage to the roots of the crop. Cultivation and use of organic mulches are the best methods for weed control. Weed control is important in this crop, especially when the plants are small. The critical period for soil moisture is during pod set and pod development. Light watering will encourage shallow rooting of the plants. Whichever method is used, the garden should be watered sufficiently to moisten the soil to a depth of 6 inches. These systems can be installed rather easily and will help to conserve water, keep foliage dry, and target application areas. An alternative method to using a hose or sprinkler to water is installing a drip irrigation system. If using a hose or sprinkler, the garden should be watered in the morning so that the foliage is dry before dark. Water the garden to provide a uniform moisture supply to the crop. In about 4 to 6 weeks, the ratooned plants will begin producing fruit that can be enjoyed by gardeners up until the first frost of the season.
After fertilization, plants should be watered frequently, as this will be the hottest part of the summer. For more information on fertilizing vegetables, please see HGIC 1254, Fertilizing Vegetables. Depending on the type of fertilizer used, 2 to 3 pounds of these products should be used per 100 feet of row in a sidedress application. Once the plants are cut, gardeners will want to fertilize with a fertilizer that has a 1:2 ratio of nitrogen to potassium, which will encourage new growth and stimulate flower production. Okra should be mowed or pruned to 6 to 12 inches above the soil line.
Ratooning is the process of cutting the stem of a plant, causing it to push out new growth and produce another crop later in the fall. If harvest tapers off and okra slows or ceases flower production, then gardeners should try ratooning spring-planted okra (usually around mid-July to mid-August). Ratooningĭuring the hottest and often driest parts of the summer, okra may slow down production. It is important to supply additional nitrogen late in the season at the time blooms are concentrated at the top of the plant. More applications of calcium nitrate may be needed later, depending on rainfall and how long okra is expected to produce. Sidedressing should occur at 3 to 4 weeks after planting and again at 6 to 8 weeks after planting. 5-0-0) per 1,000 square feet or 1 to 2 pounds per 100 feet of row. Okra should be sidedressed with 3 to 6 pounds of calcium nitrate (15. The use of additional nitrogen should be avoided on vigorous plantings until fruiting begins to manage plant growth and ensure pod production. The okra plant has a sensitive balance between vegetation (leaf production) and reproduction (pod production). If a soil test has not been taken, apply 25 to 50 pounds of 10-10-10 before planting or other fertilizer that would give between 2½ to 5 pounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium per 1,000 square feet. Information on soil testing is available in HGIC 1652, Soil Testing.įollow the results of a soil test to maintain a soil pH between 5.
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