In the Furrow
Okra is Great in the Garden
By Will Duffie County Extension Coordinator

Time has come for gardeners across Burke County to plant okra in the home garden. Okra is a

plant that likes warm air and soil temp e r a t u r e s . Whether okra is fried, steamed or in v e g e t a b l e soup; it remains

one of

my favorites.

Okra is a fairly easy crop to grow and the rewards can be plentiful. The first step is to head to the local garden center and purchase the amount of seed needed. Several varieties are available but some of the most common for the fresh market are Clemson Spineless, Emerald, Lee, and Annie Oakley. All of these varieties will be ready to harvest around 55 to 60 days after planting.

Planting seeds in a well-drained, sandy loam soil high in organic matter will produce a good crop. Space rows 36 to 42 inches apart. To establish good stands, plant 3 to 4 seeds per foot and thin to 12 to 15 inches between plants. Before planting, have the soil tested and follow recommendations. If no soil test was made, a general recommendation would be to apply 2 lb of 10-10-10 per 100 ft2 and make two side dressings of 3 oz of 10-10-10 per 100 ft of row, beginning when plants are 6 to 8 inches tall and again 2 to 3 weeks later. Do not over-use nitrogen, since it can cause excessive plant growth and poor yield.

Keep an eye on the insect population and water on a timely basis. If you follow these simple steps, then an abundance of okra will come from even a small patch. For more information contact the UGA - Burke County Extension Office at (706) 554- 2119.