growing okra in Florida could n’t be easy . Okra is one of the only vegetables that can withstand the Florida summer .
The best variety of okra to grow in Florida is Clemson Spineless . Plant in the mid to late bound , So that the plant can spring up during the warmest months of Florida . South Florida can also replant Okra in August to maturate through their warm “ winters ” .
Okra is n’t everybody ’s favorite tasting intellectual nourishment but even if you do n’t like the way it tastes you should still give it a grow in your garden .
It is a beautiful plant life , part of the hibiscus family it has really decent looking yellow and purple bloom .
Florida Friendly Okra Varieties
Clemson Spineless is n’t the only variety of Abelmoschus esculentus that you may grow in Florida , there are a few other varieties .
I really like the Clemson Spineless variety because it is , as the name suggests , spineless . Some other varieties of okra plant have niggling spines on them that make working with the plant difficult .
Harvesting , pruning and pest control become more of a task than a pleasance when your hands are getting dig up .
The varieties Baby Bubba and Little Lucy are midget varieties which are perfect for container garden and smaller spaces .
When To Plant Okra In Florida
Okra loves heat and humidity . This is one of those rare veg that you could in reality grow during the summertime months of Florida .
These time are all estimates that are based on averages of the last frost date for your area . Okra does not really care the cooler weather . So , when deciding when to plant okra use your best judgement on when you think cold conditions is gone in your sphere .
In central Florida , where I am , it ’s almost a guarantee that we wo n’t see frost after the ending of February . However , some years we may never see a frost so we could actually constitute sooner than the recommended time .
Use these dates as a guideline and know that some years will be different than other years .
Planting Okra
Okra needs full sun to maximise production . and when i say full sun i actually imply full sun . Okra know to be beaten down by our blazing summertime sun .
I do n’t interpret how anything can actually enjoy our summertime sun , I ca n’t even savour a stroll through the parking lot during our summer months without sound off about perspiration .
But lady’s-finger does it . foot the sunniest part of your yard and I bet okra will prosper for you .
The only caution to that would be if the cheery part of your uard had soggy soil . Okra does not wish to have it ’s roots wet for an elongated period of time .
Okra does wish stack of water but it require to be in a soil that run out well . If you are design on plant right away into your soil check that that you add together compost and a courteous slurred layer of mulch at the very least .
I have raised bottom built and I like to build my soil . I have always found secure chance with a mixture that looks like this :
you’re able to substitute peat moss for coco coir because it is easily found at your local hardware memory , although not as environmentally well-disposed . Compost and perlite are also readily uncommitted at most local nurseries .
insect castings and Mykos are optional ingredients , but I have noticed a departure when I use them .
When planting gumbo from ejaculate it might be a secure estimate to soak your seeds overnight . Many resources online say that that will help your sprouting rate . I ’ve plant my come directly into the soil before and gotten good results as well though .
Caring For Okra
Okra is a relatively carefree plant . besides bring in sure that you water them everyday . Okra enjoy frequent watering but it will not tolerate wet feet for an lengthened length of time .
Ensure that your plant is in well draining territory .
Okra is susceptible to root - knot nematodes . These are microscopic thing that live in the soil and damage the roots of your industrial plant . Florida grease is known to have a nematode job so this is probably going to be the handsome challenge that you present when growing okra .
There are temporary fixes by adding certain things to your grime but these will eventually wash out . you could either plant in a container or raised bed to make certain that nematodes do n’t get to your plant .
or you could strain constitute thing that rebuff nematodes .
marigold are a really good plant to grow in Florida that is said to repulse nematodes . For more ongrowing marigolds in Florida check this out .
Fertilizing Okra
Okra bask fertilizer similar to most fruit bring out vegetable like the tomato or eggplant . I would recommend something like Tomato tone(Check price on Amazon ) . Its a balanced 3 - 4 - 6 fertilizer with added Ca and sulfur .
The three values , nitrogen(N ) , Phosphorous(P ) , and Potassium(K ) all help the plant do something different . Nitrogen serve the plant life bring forth unripened leafy growth , phosphoric help the plant produce more flowers , so therefore more yield . And potassium is a general health booster .
Fertilizing okra is dissimilar than fertilizing collards . With collards , your main harvesting would be the leaves so you would require a nitrogen centre fertilizer . With okra , our master focussing is the fruit so our plant food should be high in phosphoric than N .
Although it ’s worth noting that Florida ’s soil is naturally in high spirits in phosphoric , so if you are set directly into your yard it ’s a good idea to get your territory test .
Take a sampling to your local extension berth , it ’s less than 5 dollar bill to get it analyzed .
To bump your local file name extension office chatter here .
Harvesting Okra
Okra should be harvested when the pods are no grownup than 3 inches . If the gumbo pods get down to grow larger than that they become almost uneatable . They get very tough and wiry .
When harvesting lady’s-finger you should bide aggressive with it , harvesting almost every Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . you could clean the cod when they are only an inch or so long . Also , the more you pick the more the plant produces .
you may lay in okra in the fridge for about a week .
If you did n’t constitute the Clemson spineless variety you will need to wear gloves when harvest home . The plant life and yield have midget footling spines on them that can irritate your hands .
