We only plant the things we like. Okra is one of my favorites but you know that, right?
The ground has to be really warm before planting okra. Also, it always helps to soak the seeds overnight before planting. We soaked and we waited til we thought the ground was warm enough. It’s a real struggle to get okra to grow here because of the pH of our soil and water. We planted our okra probably early in May. I would guess only about 1/3 of it came up. I replanted all the spots where nothing came up and within a few weeks, the weeds were about 10″ tall and the okra that came up was about 2″ tall. We decided to till it all under and start over.
Vince tilled it all up, we watered and dared weeds to sprout. After about 10 days, Vince tilled it all up again. Used coffee grounds will add nitrogen to the compost but once they’re used, they’re fairy neutral and will not raise or lower the pH. Vince had several large containers of unused coffee grounds that had expired years ago and he wasn’t going to use them so I spread them out where we were going to plant the okra. We had some rabbit poop so we spread that out. Vince waited a few days and tilled it again.
Yesterday we replanted the okra. Here’s the process.
- Put the first soaker hose down, then measure and place the remaining soaker hoses down.
- Plant the okra along both sides of the soaker hose.
- Place burlap along the rows to hopefully control the weeds AND to make snakes more visible.
- Sit back and wait and see what happens.
I wish the okra would grow like my Seminole Pumpkins.
Some years they’re fairly docile. If they start growing out of control, I’ll gently place them back within their growing area and hope they stay and most often they do. But some years, they’re wild and out of control. They’ve already taken over the beans and now they’re way into the area where the onions were growing. At this rate, I can see or entire garden covered in Seminole Pumpkins by the first frost. That’s very optimistic thinking. You should see some of the grasshoppers. They are HUGE and they are hungry. The could wipe out those pumpkin vines in no time if they get tired of the chard and beans!
One positive thing I can say about the garden – the squash! Two years ago, the squash bugs ruined every plant I had before I ever got the first squash. Last year I didn’t even plant squash. This year, I think I’ve already put up 8 quarts of squash; all four trays are full of squash in the freeze dryer now and I have enough to fill the freeze dryer again once the current load is finished.
I’ll be happy with whatever the garden produces but I’ll still complain about the heat, the drought and the bugs!
montanaclarks says
My sister and her husband were in the garden most of yesterday–it was 93 degrees. Last evening they were out there for over two hours tying up 50 tomato plants. My sister works full time, has been staying with our Mom night and day plus she is a pastor’s wife. I love her to pieces!
Sara Fridley says
The burlap is very clever. My dad often had newspaper in the garden and then topped with grass clippings as he mowed.
Judy Laquidara says
Grass clippings here are full of grass burrs so we definitely don’t use those. I’m hoping the burlap works but if I had to guess, I’d say the weeds are going to grow right through the holes.
Ethelann says
What about the cardboard? Would it work?
Judy Laquidara says
We’ve tried cardboard and it blows so badly, even if we try to put pins in it, the wind will rip it right up. Also, it takes a good bit of cutting to get it the size we need to go between the rows. We may go back to cardboard but we had several rolls of burlap so we’ll use that and see what happens.
wanda jordan says
Well on the okra planting. My father in law say they like the heat due to they came form Africa. So maybe to much water. What but I’ve planted mine 3 times and still only 24 inches tall. Slow growing but we’ve had lots of rain. Getting dry now so have to water rest of stuff.
Now on the cardboard I use cardboard. I get it at food pantry/food banks . It is those big watermelon / potatoe round bale containers they come in .. I cut just the side and put them down. My rows are just far apart to put them and it comes up to the plants. I’m sure some grocery store would let you have them. I get pine straw from neighbor when he remembers to let me know.. It works ok but have to watch for snakes(copperheards are the same color). Squash same problem bugs get them just when they start blooming really good. I’ve tired injecting stuff in vine, I’ve tired covering with cloths when plant (cause they say that is when bug lays its eggs). But so far nothing has helped. I ask and old farmer he said always plant 2/3 times more than you think you need cause it happens. So there you have my garden stuff. Almost to hot for tomatoes blooms to set now so have to cover plants with shade cloth and water till fall.
Judy Laquidara says
Yes, okra likes heat and it needs a good bit of water. I always grew it in Louisiana where we got sufficient rain. Here, I have to water it every day, often n the morning and evening. The one we planted over the weekend are already up and looking good. We have plenty of cardboard. Remember . . Vince brought home about 8 truck loads of it from the landfill – all brand new and the same size.
You can use diatomaceous earth on your squash to keep the bugs off but you have to re-apply it every time it rains or your watering washes it off. A couple of years ago, the squash bugs totally ruined my squash and I got nothing. This year, I haven’t seen a single squash bug.
We’ve been past the point for tomato blossoms to set for a couple of weeks but I’m hoping to keep them watered and alive and let them produce into fall.
Oh, how I wish I could get pine straw here. That would help my garden so much – weed control and add acid to the soil but .. no pine trees around this area.