Okra plants not growing tall...still flowering

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Becca7980 Sulphur, LA May 29, 2011

This is my first time growing okra...well, growing any vegetables...and mine stopped growing at 1 foot tall but did start producing flowers and some slow-growing okra pods. I don't know what variety I bought, unfortunately...I just picked them up from Home Depot already sprouted.

What I'm wondering is if I picked the current small okra, will that make the plant grow taller because it will take less energy away from the main plant by not having to put energy into the fruit? I was thinking it may allow it to grow taller and then produce more fruit in the end.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Ozark Ozark, MO(Zone 6a) May 29, 2011

We're just in May, and even though you're in LA and I'm sure it's already hot there - there's a long summer for okra to grow still ahead. I think it's good that your plants are already blooming and producing pods. I think as the season progresses, they'll grow to whatever the full size for that variety is - there's plenty of time.

If you think it's needed, you might work a light side-dressing of balanced fertilizer into the soil beside your okra plants. Don't overdo it, though. Or, sometimes I just spray plants of that size with MiracleGro and that makes them take off.

Different okra varieties differ a lot in plant size. I grew one a couple of years ago called Cajun Delight that only got 3 or 4 feet tall, but it produced a lot of okra for us. I've got some Cowhorn okra this year, and I understand if I don't top it when it gets to about 5 feet I'll have to pick it from a stepladder later in the season!

Post #8594479
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Becca7980 Sulphur, LA May 29, 2011

Cool. Thanks for the info. So it sounds like height isn't the big thing. I just looked them up and they are clemson spineless, which apparently grow to 4-6 feet high but I suppose I won't worry if they are producing okra.

The okra are only about 3/4 to 1 inch long right now. I just thought that they should be taller before they made okra or else the okra would stunt their growth and they would not get tall and not produce an adequate amount of okra. I thought maybe picking the little short ones now would let it have energy to get taller and then do better in the end.

Thanks.

Post #8594525
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paradacrades Hilliard, FL(Zone 8b) May 30, 2011

Ozark gave you a great answer. Clemson spineless is a standard okra cultivar, and I think you will be happy with it. As far as picking the okra goes, pick it as soon as it is big enough to use, and pick it every day, or every other day. With okra, the more you pick, the more you get. Another thing about okra, it loves the heat. Because of the drought here in Florida, I have not planted my okra yet. Last year, I did not plant it until mid June, and it made some of the best okra I ever grew. Also, keep it well watered. You should do fine.

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