Okra is a vegetable that never gets apathy, but instead either Love or hate. When cooked, it can have a slimy texture, however roasting or other techniques can make this less noticeable.
It has star power just because it’s a vital component of gumbo and sauces are thickened with its rich juice. Its flowers are spectacular and it is a member of the mallow family.
Okra can survive short periods of drought, but in hot weather, it needs at least an inch of water every week. Okra needs well-drained soil as well.
What are okra companion plants?
Okra’s strong stems enable it to act as a kind of windbreaker for more delicate plants, like peppers.
Because of the okra plants’ ability to provide some shade and the fact that lettuces’ shallow roots won’t compete with theirs for the nutrients they require, they make good companion plants.
Okra thrives in hot climates, so you may grow it as a shade plant for greens that benefit from some sun (like kale and herbs like parsley, tarragon, chives, and cilantro), as well as for vegetables that need some shade.
Along with the okra, it’s a good idea to sow early cool-weather vegetables like peas. Along with the okra, it’s a good idea to sow early cool-weather vegetables like peas.
There is little risk of the larger okra plants crowding the smaller okra plants because your peas will be ready for harvest before they grow very large.
Simply pull up the pea plants after the final harvest to make room for the okra, which will grow larger as the weather warms.
What are the things to plant near okra?
The annual vegetable okra grows quickly and does well in warm climates. Okra is a very tall plant that, by the end of the summer, can reach heights of up to 6 feet (2 meters). This makes it a valuable addition to plants like lettuce on its own.
The delicate greens are protected from the harsh sun by the towering okra plants. Plant lettuce behind a row of sprouting seedlings or in between the okra plants.
Peas and other springtime vegetables are excellent okra companion plants. These crops for cooler climates grow nicely when interplanted beneath okra.
Along with your okra, plant a variety of spring crops. Until the temperatures are higher, the okra seedlings won’t suffocate the spring plants.
Radishes are a spring crop that pair beautifully with okra and, as an extra benefit, peppers. Okra and radish seeds should be planted side by side, three to four inches (8 to 10 cm) apart in a row.
As the radish seedlings grow, their roots loosen the soil, enabling the okra plants to develop deeper, more robust roots.
Plant pepper plants between the okra plants once they have been pruned to a foot (31 cm) apart once the radishes are ready to be harvested. Peppers, why? Cabbage worms, which adore eating tender okra leaf, are repulsed by peppers.
Plants other than vegetables make excellent okra partners. Sunflowers and other flowers are excellent company.
Okra blossoms are visited by natural pollinators attracted by the brightly colored blooms, which produce big, swollen pods.
Why won’t my okra bloom?
Time: Depending on the cultivar, flowering should start 50 to 65 days after planting. For the next 10 to 12 weeks, the plants can continue to produce pods. Okra without flowers might just need more time to mature.
Inadequate sunlight: Okra is a full-sun plant that requires at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day in order to blossom.
Inadequate heat: Okra thrives in hot areas and struggles in cold ones. When the soil is less than 65-70 degrees F (18-21 degrees C) in the spring, avoid attempting to grow okra.
Try growing okra seedlings indoors and carefully moving them outdoors once the soil is warm enough if your garden takes a while to warm up.
Lack of water or an imbalance in nutrients Okra that isn’t flowering could be dehydrated. Although okra is more tolerant of drought than many garden plants, watering it will keep it healthier and may increase its yield.
Okra also favors fertilizers with a higher phosphorus content than nitrogen. The application of phosphorus fertilizer can encourage blooming whereas too much nitrogen can hinder blossoming.
What are the bad companion plants For okra?
The majority of gardeners believe that having more nematodes in the soil will help their plants grow. Nematodes, however, are harmful to okra since these minuscule insects enjoy eating the roots of okra plants.
But certain vine plants, like sweet potatoes and squash, benefit from the presence of nematodes in the soil.
Before planting okra in the same garden bed as nightshade vegetables, with the exception of melons and cucumbers, you should wait at least one year.
Okra does not have any undesirable pals besides this. One of the plants suggested in this post should be planted. Okra plants can grow with its assistance.
Why grow okra alongside other plants?
More sensitive plants, like peppers, benefit from the additional protection offered by the thick stems of okra, which act as a windbreak.
Okra plants may compete with shallow-rooted lettuce for nutrition, but by providing some shade, they also protect lettuce from the hot summer sun. It is therefore the perfect complement to lettuces.
You can grow okra as a shade plant for greens that do best in dim light because it thrives in hot areas. (such as kale and herbs including tarragon, parsley, cilantro, and chives). Another sensible move is to plant some early cool-weather crops, such peas.
Since your peas would be mature enough to be harvested before they grew too enormous, you wouldn’t have to be concerned about the larger okra plants smothering the smaller pea plants.
After the last harvest, prune the pea plants to make space for the okra to grow when the weather gets warmer.
Conclusion
Try companion planting if you want to develop okra and give the soil a strong framework for growth. When grown in your garden, okra can shadow lower-lying plants that cover the ground because of its height.
