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Post by daylilydude on Apr 26, 2014 6:10:49 GMT -5
OK, as most of you know I think okra is just a weed with a purdy flower, but I was ask by my friend to grow some for him as he is not putting in a garden this year as health problems are in his way, so he has given me seeds to this variety and as I haven't grown okra so any help would be appreciated... 1- How far apart should the seed be planted directly in the garden? 2- How tall do these get as I plant in a N/S direction and don't want to shade anything else that's planted? 3- What is the best size for picking to get tender okra? 4- What kind of production should I be getting off these, so as to know how many to grow? I may have more questions later, but this will give me a general idea of growing this vile weed...
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Post by gixxerific on Apr 26, 2014 11:48:54 GMT -5
vile weed huh> How come I can't seem to grow it than? I even planted more for this year but it didn't come up. Oh well i'm done with this for now.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Apr 26, 2014 13:37:44 GMT -5
1. Final spacing within rows should be at least 12" apart. You can plant in wide rows (double or triple rows) to make more efficient use of space. If you are using wide rows, an alternating pattern gives each plant more room.
In a raised bed, you can plant 12" apart in every direction.
2. With your long, hot summers, if the okra is happy it's going to get big, probably 6' tall or more.
3. Clemson Spineless needs to be picked small, by 3"-4" in length. Usually by the time a pod is 5"-6" long it will be too tough. You'll learn to tell by feel when the pods are too tough. If a pod gets too big, clip it off as soon as you see it. (If you let very many pods go to seed, the plant may quit producing.) In hot weather, the pods will be picking size just a few days after the bloom drops. Okra produces continuously, so you will need to pick every day or two.
4. I am still working on getting really good production out of okra. (I have a bad habit of crowding mine; I am going to try to be better about giving them space this year.) So, I will let somebody else answer the production question.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Apr 26, 2014 13:52:14 GMT -5
vile weed huh> How come I can't seem to grow it than? I even planted more for this year but it didn't come up. Oh well i'm done with this for now. Gixx, okra won't germinate until the soil is very, very warm and the nights are near 60. Even if you get it to germinate at lower temperatures, most okra is going to sulk until you have 55-60 degree nights. (There are a few types of cool-tolerant okra, but most okra needs heat to grow.) It's definitely not too late to plant again. In hot temperatures okra germinates fast and starts producing in 50-75 days from seed. You can speed germination by soaking okra seed for 2-3 days before sowing. You can also sow okra indoors and transplant it carefully. Okra likes regular water but won't tolerate standing water or mud. So if you have heavy soil and/or you are planting before your soil has fully dried out in the spring, those could be other reasons you're not having much luck.
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materman
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Post by materman on Apr 26, 2014 23:51:34 GMT -5
Laura's advice is the way it is! About the last crop to go in the ground for me. Have let some seed fall in the fall and wait for it to emerge voluntarily to know when to plant. But the main advice I would say other then what has been said is "grow a better variety"!! Never thought much of Clemson Spineless.
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Post by daylilydude on Apr 27, 2014 7:18:07 GMT -5
Thanks gixxerific, Laura_in_FL, materman as this will help me alot in growing and harvesting. I planted just 10 seeds in a 17' row, so that should be enough spacing... right?
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Apr 27, 2014 11:00:29 GMT -5
DLD, That's more than enough spacing. Actually, I usually don't get 100% germination from okra, and sometimes slugs and other pests will munch on tender young seedlings. If you have extra seeds I'd sow some more in that space to be sure you get a full stand. Thin them when you have sturdy seedlings with at least a couple of pairs of true leaves. ________________ Materman, I've been pretty happy with Clemson Spineless, but I am always on the lookout for a better okra. What kinds of okra do you like, and what makes them better than Clemson Spineless? Yield? Tender at bigger sizes? Flavor?
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Post by bestofour on Apr 27, 2014 18:25:32 GMT -5
DLD why are you planting it if you don't like it?
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materman
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Post by materman on Apr 27, 2014 22:01:20 GMT -5
i have to say I have grown Emerald Green Velvet for over 20 years and really like it for the skinnier pods which I have pickled when even at 8 inches long with good results. And DLD, I plant mine with a push planter and then thin to 10" to 12" apart after up and going. On a side note, I have grown so much of this variety that would pull the combine into the patch to harvest the seed. Can get 50lbs of seed pretty fast
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2014 5:53:13 GMT -5
Materman, I thought Emerald and Green Velvet were two different varieties? That said, your description sounds more like a velvet okra than Emerald, so I'll bet it's the Green Velvet. I like the velvet okras for all the same reasons, plus they tend to branch and spread rather than just go up, so I don't need a ladder to keep picking in August. There are three velvet okras. I've been growing White Velvet for years, and this year I found Green Velvet on a trip to Arkansas, and a friend in North Carolina is sending me some Red Velvet, so I plan to try all 3! MB
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materman
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Post by materman on Apr 28, 2014 8:41:20 GMT -5
Mike, I am just giving the name that the seed had when I bought it. You can do a google search and still find it, but it is a fairly uncommon variety. Here is a link to one site that sales it and their description. Emerald Green Velvet
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Apr 28, 2014 8:43:09 GMT -5
Thanks, Materman.
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materman
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Post by materman on Apr 28, 2014 15:37:29 GMT -5
Mike after looking a little bit, i come up with this. Emerald was created by the Campbell's soup co. back in the 50s, and Louisiana Green velvet was created by the USDA and went by the name NSL 22637. And Emerald Green Velvet was created by the same as Louisiana Green Velvet USDA but went by the name NSL 6376. So indeed a different variety.
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Post by daylilydude on Apr 28, 2014 18:14:53 GMT -5
DLD why are you planting it if you don't like it? bestofour, a really dear friend has had to have hip replacement surgery and won't have a garden this year, so a couple of us are planting a row in our gardens just for him and his family...
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Post by bestofour on Apr 28, 2014 20:30:35 GMT -5
Oh right. I remember that now.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2014 21:13:48 GMT -5
Mike after looking a little bit, i come up with this. Emerald was created by the Campbell's soup co. back in the 50s, and Louisiana Green velvet was created by the USDA and went by the name NSL 22637. And Emerald Green Velvet was created by the same as Louisiana Green Velvet USDA but went by the name NSL 6376. So indeed a different variety. Gotcha. So there really is more than one Green Velvet. I'll have to get a seed sample from you sometime and see which I prefer. I don't trust Reimer Seeds, though. They have a habit of selling old, dead, and/or mixed up seed. MB
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materman
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Post by materman on Apr 30, 2014 22:49:39 GMT -5
When things slow down a bit, I will try getting you some. Still got to get some squash seed to you too.
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Post by daylilydude on May 15, 2014 12:41:28 GMT -5
Ok all you okra lovers... they sprouted and have gotten about an inch tall and it looks like they have just quit growing??? It's been like 3 weeks and they haven't grown hardly at all... any suggestions on why not?
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materman
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Post by materman on May 15, 2014 19:25:05 GMT -5
Has it cooled off down your way? They just love heat. I planted some a few weeks ago just to have them in, but still no show, and that was with a week of high 80s.
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Post by bestofour on May 16, 2014 9:50:24 GMT -5
The early growth of okra is often slow, but the plants grow much faster once summer starts sizzling so don't worry, be happy.
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Post by daylilydude on May 16, 2014 10:43:14 GMT -5
Thanks y'all... That is prolly what the slow down is as it's been a lil cool here... I just wanted to make sure that I didn't need to replant these, so now I'll just wait for the heat
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Post by daylilydude on May 27, 2014 19:22:09 GMT -5
Ok... the heat has been here and they didn't do a thing... so I tilled them under and gonna replant them. I think I just planted them early and it stunted them... your thoughts??
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whistech
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Post by whistech on May 27, 2014 20:09:33 GMT -5
Daylillydude, I am only a novice gardener, but I can tell you my experience this year. I tried to get an early jump on okra this year and planted in late March, despite what the Oldtimers have said over and over; that is, don't plant okra until the temperatures have reached at least 80 degrees during the day and 60 degrees at night. We had a much cooler Spring than normal this year and out of a 24 feet long row, i had only three plants that came up and those three plants were sickly looking and didn't grow much at all. I replanted my okra on 1 May and now it is growing pretty good. The hotter it gets the better it will grow. The 5 inches of rain the Good Lord has blessed us with the last 2 days should do a wonder for the okra and everything else. Keep us posted.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on May 28, 2014 11:52:09 GMT -5
Yep. Your new planting should take off and you have plenty of season left.
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Tressa
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Post by Tressa on May 28, 2014 20:16:41 GMT -5
daylilydude I agree with bestofour, once the weather gets, and stays, warmer the okra should start growing faster.
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Post by bestofour on May 29, 2014 10:27:08 GMT -5
DLD, my okra is just now coming up too..as in today. I think you doubled your work (but what else have you got to do right) and they would have eventually broken ground. I guess the seeds just lay there until the ground gets to a temp they like.
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tntiger
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Post by tntiger on Aug 7, 2014 17:45:59 GMT -5
I'm in an okra mood at the moment and just read this thread . . . DLD what happened with your second planting? Is it up and producing for you?
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Post by bestofour on Aug 25, 2014 18:23:51 GMT -5
My okra plants never did get taller than 3 feet. Is there such a thing as dwarf okra? My pack of seeds doesn't say dwarf though. The pods themselves are normal size but the plants haven't produced enough to freeze. Just enough to eat once or twice a week.
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Tressa
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Post by Tressa on Aug 25, 2014 18:44:46 GMT -5
There is such a thing as dwarf okra. I grew some a few years ago. Pods were normal size on them, too. I wasn't happy with it's production and will not plant any again unless that is the only seeds I can get, as was the case the year I planted it.
We were given okra seed late last summer, with no label so I'm not sure of the variety. Planted some of that this year, and I have plants 8' to 10' tall. Have to bend the plants way over to reach the pods. I'm now getting about 3 times the amount of okra I can use. I've been giving it away. Guess I'll have to break down and freeze some, though we don't like it as well after it's been frozen.
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