Beginner Gardening: OKRA, Part ll, 1 by Ozark

Ozark wrote:
That severe haircut I gave my okra plants six days ago didn't work. They grew giant leaves again and came back even bushier than before - and I've got NO okra production.

I trimmed them again this evening - and this time I removed all but new-growth leaves about 3" or less in diameter. I really whacked 'em back.

These plants aren't growing tall, they're growing wide. They're only about 2' tall, and I expected them (especially the Cowhorn) to be 4' or 5' tall by now. On every plant of every variety I found blossom buds that have turned brown and dried up instead of blooming - what's up with that?

I THINK I've made life too easy for them. They're the healthiest looking okra plants I've ever seen with main stems almost 2" in diameter, and they can grow leaves 18" across in nothing flat.

Our weather has been hot for weeks, the way okra likes it. I've mulched the rows with grass clippings so their roots are cooler and moist, and they have abundant water from soaker hoses. My farm supply store was out of the 10-20-10 fertilizer I usually use, so I side-dressed these with 12-12-12 about three weeks ago before I put the mulch around them. Maybe that was too much nitrogen and not enough phosphorus?

I think maybe I've made 'em so happy they have no reason to grow tall or produce seeds at this point. I'm thinking about mixing a little Superphosphate in the mulch around each plant and letting the rain soak it in. Maybe that would get some blooms and pods going?

Hey, I've sure got some pretty, healthy okra plants. Am I just getting impatient? Surely production will kick in later in the summer? Okra growers, what are your thoughts on this?