|
Okra
Jun 1, 2019 9:42:17 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by pepperhead212 on Jun 1, 2019 9:42:17 GMT -5
brownrexx Those are planted in those Earthboxes, so they probably look smaller than they are - they hold approx. 2 cu ft of soil mix. And Earthbox says 8 okra can be grown in them, but that is a little crowded - only did that the first time I tried okra in them, and reduced to 6 after that. I've had okra grow higher than I could reach, using those things! And I never could grow okra in my garden - like trying to grow tomatoes in the south, due to the nematodes! Something would kill them every time, after only a few okra had been produced. I had given up on them, until I tried this method.
|
|
|
Okra
Jun 1, 2019 12:42:08 GMT -5
Post by Laura_in_FL on Jun 1, 2019 12:42:08 GMT -5
You can crowd okra into a SIP - as long as you can keep the reservoir filled. They make a dense okra "forest" - which can make it challenging to keep them picked. And the tall varieties can make the SIP top-heavy and prone to tipping over in high winds later in the season. So it helps to have some stakes or anchors, just in case.
|
|
|
Okra
Jun 1, 2019 13:01:55 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by pepperhead212 on Jun 1, 2019 13:01:55 GMT -5
How many okra do you plant in an EB, Laura_in_FL? I have no problem keeping the reservoir filled with okra or peppers, using just once a day fillings on the timer - not like tomatoes and EP! Just today I had to set those to every 12 hrs, as they were getting almost emptied in 24 hrs., though I had them on shorter times, as well. With the taller okras I tie some of that plastic tape around the entire group of okras, to sort of hold them together when the wind blows.
|
|
|
Okra
Jun 1, 2019 13:32:40 GMT -5
Post by Laura_in_FL on Jun 1, 2019 13:32:40 GMT -5
I have had pretty good luck with okra in my raised beds, so it has been a while since I used an EB for okra. I think it was eight plants I used to put in there like the EB folks recommended, but I'm not 100% sure. It might only have been six plants per box.
That was before I had an irrigation system for my EBs so all of the EBs had to be watered by hand...I did that job once a day and that wasn't always enough for okra, tomatoes, eggplants, and especially cucumbers. (My plants are definitely happier since I got the irrigation set up.)
|
|
|
Okra
Jun 1, 2019 14:41:34 GMT -5
Post by brownrexx on Jun 1, 2019 14:41:34 GMT -5
tall varieties can make the SIP top-heavy and prone to tipping over in high winds later in the season. I was thinking that too. I will be interested to see how that EB looks in a month pepperhead212 , Little Lucy is a dwarf variety but it's pretty bushy. I planted 3 this year. 20180821_163635 by Brownrexx, on Flickr
|
|
|
Okra
Jun 1, 2019 17:05:54 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by pepperhead212 on Jun 1, 2019 17:05:54 GMT -5
Laura_in_FL I'm sure that you were even happier than your plants when you got that irrigation set up! Even the first year I had EBs, with only 3 of them I knew that I had to set up something to water them, and the mature EP and tomatoes needed filled more than once a day. Once I started making my own SIPs, I made them with larger reservoirs, for those thirsty plants. And I have never had an SIP tipped over, KOW, but it probably has something to do with a couple of things - all those trellises that many plants are attached to, and always keeping the water in them. Years ago, with other containers, I had EPs tip because they sucked the soil dry, and those light pots tipped right over! A wet SIP is HEAVY! Even if the reservoir isn't totally filled, it's heavy. And I sort of tweak the timing and emitter outputs, so that they don't overflow, or maybe just a little, and water less, but up to 3 times a day, in the heat of the summer. Only 3 brownrexx?? The fact that Little Lisa is bushy is one of the things I liked about it. Emerald, my favorite so far, also sends off side branches, unlike many.
|
|
|
Okra
Jun 1, 2019 17:09:54 GMT -5
Post by brownrexx on Jun 1, 2019 17:09:54 GMT -5
I only had 3 last year pepperhead212 , and they really produced an abundance of Okra but I was just looking at my bok choy/cabbage area and thinking that when it is finished in about 2 weeks, I will try direct seeding some Okra there to see how it does. I didn't freeze any okra last year, we only ate it fresh or put it into stewed tomatoes which I freeze. I saw that you freeze okra and I am trying to think of ways to use frozen okra. I don't know too many ways to cook it. I have only grilled it, made oven smashed okra or put it into stewed tomatoes.
|
|
|
Okra
Jun 1, 2019 17:34:43 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by pepperhead212 on Jun 1, 2019 17:34:43 GMT -5
brownrexx I had a bunch of okra frozen last season (8 pints), and that was with a number of non-productive plants and two killed by some varmint. I would harvest them daily, but even then, some of the clemson spineless and gold coast would get overgrown and fibrous, though they were productive. I would place them in a covered bowl in the fridge, and when I had a couple of pints I would slice them, then steam blanch them for 2 min, wash with cold water, and freeze.
|
|
|
Okra
Jun 1, 2019 21:12:30 GMT -5
Post by bestofour on Jun 1, 2019 21:12:30 GMT -5
I often wondered where the latin name for okra came from. This is what my research came up with: Mal, meaning bad and aceae meaning plant. So it really fits; BAD PLANT. And people really eat it? Next on the research list is brussels sprouts. Made me laugh.
|
|
|
Okra
Jun 2, 2019 15:44:19 GMT -5
Post by brownrexx on Jun 2, 2019 15:44:19 GMT -5
pepperhead212, I hope that your Little Lucy turns out as good as mine was last year. You will be amazed at how tender the pods are even when they are big. I quit picking the Clemson spineless and eventually pulled the plant last year because they were not nearly as good as Little Lucy. I also grew Jing Orange last year and again, LL was better. I have decided to freeze Okra this year and give it a try. I saw some good recipes online to try.
|
|