Sustainable Practices for Vegetable Production in the South
Dr. Mary Peet, NCSU
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Okra
BOTANY
Okra is a tropical perennial growing 3 to 6 feet
tall. Older cultivars had prickly hairs on the okra pod,
forcing workers to wear gloves. Breeders have
eliminated this annoying characteristic from modern,
commercial cultivars such as 'Clemson spineless'. A
new cultivar, 'Clemson Spineless 80', is more uniform, earlier, and higher
yielding, and has replaced the
original cultivar for much of the fresh market and
processing uses. Once flowering has begun, a pod will
develop in the axil of every subsequent leaf. Fruit will
set with either cross or self-pollination so no special
provision need be made for pollination. Pod color can
range from brilliant red to green, gold, and nearly
white. Some cultivars, such as 'Lee', have a single
main stem, making them easier to pick.
Climatic Requirements
Okra is a hot weather crop. The optimum soil
temperature is 75 to 90 degrees F, with a minimum soil
temperature for growth of 65 degrees F. Damping-off and seed
decay are likely at soil temperatures below 70 degrees F.
Ample moisture is also necessary for germination.
Because okra requires warm soil and air temperatures,
it is a good candidate for rotation with a winter cover
crop. It can also be planted as a second crop following
very early spring crops.
Location of Production
Top states in 1992 based on acreage were Texas,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama and California. In 1992,
the South accounted for 78.4 percent of the total U.S.
crop acreage. The top five southern states (based on
acreage) were Texas, 732; Florida, 661; Georgia, 528;
461; Alabama, 437; and Louisiana, 178.