OKRA, Question about newly planted

I planted about four okra seeds in a large container, expecting to weed out if all germinated. I have several little tiny stems with a small flower on the end. They are about 4 inches tall but fall over on the dirt. They are so thin. Is this normal? I have never grown anything and I have started several little container gardens started on my deck.

Thank,

AB

definitely not normal. Okra is a big plant ( even the smaller cultivars). Big blooms which don't come early.

Hey Farmerdill,

Thanks for responding. I went back out and the stems are white with a hint of purple and on the top of the stem are two little green leaves. I thought it was a flower but that is on my strawberry plant. (Sorry. Did I mention I am NEW to this?) If this is more normal let me know. They have shot up thin and from what I am understanding, it should have come up thick and more sturdy. Right?

AB

Maybe too little light and heat which will caused plants especially hot weather plants to be tall and spindly. Way too early for okra here, but I did find a photo of an emerging plant from last year.

Very Helpful. I think I did plant too early. I am in GA. But it looked like the picture until it grew and fell over. LOL

May I pull those up and plant again?

AB

I plant okra, where it can get full sun, directly into the ground around the first of May. Your climate may be a week or so cooler than here. Note that if you start and transplant, it needs to be done before true leaves. Older plants react negatively to transplanting. Okra really does not do much until the temps are in the 90's. In cool weather it just sits and sulks.

I made the same beginner mistake. After it sits and sulks, wil it germinate or do I have to start over in May? Is this also true of cucumber and squash?

HA at Sulks! I went out and pulled up the little bitty stems and threw them away. There are two or three just now coming up and one that has popped out has a bit heavier stem. I really want this to grow because I love Okra and have found a new love in gardening. Vegetable gardening. When I get a camera I can take a few pics and send them to you. (Lost my really good digital in Feb)

I have planted bush green beans, zucchini, and the okra. I bought two strawberry plants and two tomato plants and some herbs that were already started. Since we are supposed to have yet another freeze this weekend, I am thankful I can bring the tomato and strawberry plants inside.

I think I understand why my grandfather enjoyed his garden so much. Thank you for your help!

Oops your post came in while I was writing. I hope it is not true of Zucchini either.

AB

This message was edited Apr 11, 2008 10:34 PM

We 'crossed' ( LOL)

Best friends forever then!

HI BFF. Have a great growing season and let's look at it this way, we're learning from our mistakes as I'm sure every gardener has. We will stick with this, learn and pardon the pun, but we will "grow."
This weekend I'm serving my family salad greens I grew myself. There's a small cabbage growing outdoors and there are seeds galore in the garden.
I was wonderfully surprised to see the mint plants resurface this season and why didn't I know they were perennial. Never thought about it. But when I went out to pull that weed, I smelled it first and laughed with joy that they are indeed perennial.
I love mint as they were wild where I grew up and that smell just makes me so happy.

Misty, the sit and sulk comment applies to seedlings that have emerged, but the soil is too cool for them to put on any growth. Squash ( all types) tolerate cooler weather. I like to plant about a week before my last frost date ( April 15) so mine went in Friday., Hopefully to emerge after this next cold front passes through. They will grow in 70-80 degrees, so once up and frost is past, they do well. Okra, lima beans, and southern peas really need heat so they are the last of summer crops to be planted.

Thanks Farmerdill, I am learning as I go. Misty and I obviously lack your experience but I know I appreciate all the help I can get. I posted on the Onion question too!

AB

HI BFF

Thanks so much for the response, Farmer Dill.
I am a new vegetable grower so I need all the help, pointers, I can obtain here.
I'm a little nervous about this cold snap coming through, I planted a lot of flower seed already as the last frost date has past already. Is this normal, for the CSRA to experience frost conditions this late?


AB, Hiya BFF, yes, admittedly, we might plant out of order, that's the sign of a new gardener under development. You're right, we are learning as we grow. Then, again, I did serve my family salad from the garden over the weekend so obviously, I'm doing some things correctly. We'll get through this. I have a new neighbor who admired my garden recently and is an experienced gardener. I find that to be very exciting. We've already traded some plants.

Actually our last average frost date is April 15th. Latest recorded (record) May 4 1971.