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Grow okra: is a tall-growing, warm-weather vegetable, easy to grow, and contains a significant amount of vitamin A. The plant will continue to bloom and produce pods up the stalk as the season progresses.
Varieties: Clemson Spineless and Dwarf Green are standard varieties. Emerald produces a smooth nonribbed pod. Annie Oakley is a new hybrid variety that branches more profusely. Burgandy is a red-podded variety.
Planting: okra requires warm weather, and early to mid-May is a desired planting time. Soil temperatures should be 60 F, and all danger of frost should be past. Okra may be transplanted or direct seeded. Plant the okra seeds about 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart and space the rows at least 3 feet apart. When the okra is up and growing, thin out the plants to about 1 foot apart.
Soil: for good yields, okra must grow in full sunlight in fertile, well-drained soil. Work the soil only when it is dry enough not to stick to garden tools. Spade or turn the soil as deeply as possible. Okra will grow best in soil that has been worked 8 to 10 inches deep. Remove all rocks and trash from the soil, and then rake it soil smooth.
Fertilizer: before planting, use 2 to 3 pounds of fertilizer such as 10-10-10 for each 100 square feet of garden area. Spread the fertilizer evenly over the area, and then mix it well into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil.
Watering: okra will do fairly well under dry conditions. However, if you water the plants every 7 to 10 days, the yield will be higher. Sandy soils will need water more often than clay soils.
Care: cultivate around the okra plants to remove weeds and grass. After the first harvest, apply 1 cup of garden fertilizer for each 10 feet of row. Scatter the fertilizer evenly between the rows. Mix it lightly with the soil. Water the plants after fertilizing.
Later in the season after the plant is tall, you can cut it off about 12 inches from the ground. The plant will send up a new stem for pod production into the late summer or fall season.
Harvest: okra plants will produce large flowers about 2 months after planting. The okra pods will be ready to pick 3 to 4 days later. Harvest the pods when they are 3 to 4 inches long. If the okra gets too large, it will be tough and stringy. Pick the okra every 1 to 2 days or yields will decrease. Okra can be stored for a week in the refrigerator.
Sources:
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/files/2013/09/EHT-058.pdf
https://hnr.k-state.edu/doc/hort-tips/vegetables/Okra.pdf
