Okra

Many soil types, including reasonably well-drained, but not heavy clay soils can be used. On clay soils, seedlings may have difficulty emerging, and it is better to use transplants. Okra seeded in a cloddy field may produce a poor stand because food seed to soil contact is required for maximum water uptake to start the germination process. Okra does best on sandy loams with high organic matter content, however. On heavy soils, additions of up to 10 tons per acre of manure are recommended to improve soil tilth. See Soil Management for other ways of increasing soil organic matter. The okra plant is very sensitive to soils with a hard pan and can be severely restricted in growth by soil compaction. Anything interfering with good taproot development will dramatically affect plant development and yield.

Harvesting one ton of pods removes 3 pounds N, 1 pound P2O5, and 8 pounds K2O. See the Chapter 1 for a description of types of liming materials and their effect on soil pH, Ca and Mg availability, and for a description of organic sources of N and their approximate N content. As with many vegetables, too much N causes excessive vegetative growth. If soil tests are not available, soils would require 25 to 35 pounds N, 50 to 70 pounds P2O5 and 50 to 70 pounds K2O, plus side dressings of 20 pounds N when plants are 6 to 8 inches tall and again 2 to 3 weeks later.

Planting

Thick walls in some okra seeds delay germination. The percentage of these hard seeds is usually indicated on the seed tag. Seedlots with a significant percentage of hard seed may benefit from soaking overnight or freezing to crack the seed coat. Where the growing season is long, okra can be either direct seeded or transplanted. Plastic mulch, drip irrigation and use of transplants will give an earlier harvest in areas with short growing seasons. Transplants are placed in the field at the 3-to-4-leaf stage in double rows 15 to 18 inches apart with 12 inches between plants. For direct seeding of most cultivars, rows are set 30 to 48 inches apart with 12 to 24 inches between plants. Seed depth should be 3/4 to 1 inch. Rows are 6 feet apart in South Carolina to make harvest easier and to reduce pod rot. Exact spacing will depend on equipment available and whether the crop will be given sufficient additional fertilization and irrigation to support high densities. Traditional spacing is 12,000 plants per acre. Wide spacing will give plants with many lateral branches. Yield compensation by branching will offset in-row skips but may delay the time of peak production.

The okra plant produces big, broad juvenile leaves before it enters the pod development stage. Close plant spacing, huge juvenile leaves, and high humidity with poor air circulation can result in periods of devastating early pod losses from Choanephora blossom rot and pod blight. Thick planting and overfertilizing increase incidence of this disease.

Irrigation

Drought stress slows growth, reducing flower development and pod quality. Adequate moisture during pod development is essential for good yields of high quality pods.