okra is small

[seedcorn]

no rain, sandy soils, trying to bloom. Not sure of variety as I save seed, could be clemson spineless? Any hope for any okra?

Explain something else to me, before downloading on this website, I flipped the picture so it looked correct, it looks correct in the website library, but then flips on this post...ok why? Even weirder to me, on preview pix was on it's side, then when posted it is like it should be...wow.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have no idea on the computer stuff. I just hope they leave things alone and don't "improve" it for a while once I figure out how to something.

I think plenty of hope for the okra. It usually seems to grow just a little then set there doing nothing for a long time. Then in a very short time period it will get big and really start to produce. It might help to water it if you are as dry as we are, but you are probably on the verge of plenty of okra. I think it spends that time developing the root system.

 

[Dave2000]

My okra was really a pain this season. I started with bad seed, not realizing it so I went through several seedings before I gave up and bought seed elsewhere.

Then it grew really slow due to cold weather, but with temps now 95-100F it is really taking off. Problem is it doesn't seem to like it that hot and is aborting new buds, blooms, and young fertilized pods but at least with more energy put into plant growth it will have more sites for buds once it cools down a bit.

Okra definitely builds up momentum. Pretty soon those little leaves will get huge, then the stem they're on will shoot up a couple inches every day. You will have too many plants too close together before long, but in the end it's more about surface area to catch sun than how many plants there are. Unfortunately around here the bugs like to eat okra leaves far more than my peppers, tomatoes, etc., especially leaf hoppers and grasshoppers.

I suspect yours will benefit from water.

 

[seedcorn]

OK, so there is hope. I do have them too close but I'm trying to start a 3rd row and it's so dry, I'm having a hard time to get them to germ and live. Will have to wave the white flag and start watering the seed as it won't rain here. Fort Wayne (the town) gets all kind of rain but those of us in country get to watch it rain on the town. Fields are going to soon be a lost cause here.

 

[baymule]

Some info on whipping your okra. I just cut off bottom leaves when I cut okra (just started after reading up on whipping okra) LOL




http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=30139&p=2

 

[seedcorn]

Thanks, I had been ready that thread but never read about how to whiP okra. My dad talked about how his dad cut leaves off. Now I will. I've been treating my okra too good over years. Now I'll go abuse it

 

[Carol Dee]

seedcorn, I feel your pain, every time rain is forcast it fizzles out or goes around. We are going to be a REAL drought if it doesn't rain soon (and more than 1/10 of an inch!) Our Okra looks like yours, We have been watering a little. I think I will try whipping, too. So.... praying for rain, for EVERYONE in need, before we have to load up the water barrels and haul water to garden (two milwes from home and no running water)

 

[Dave2000]

Is your okra doing any better? Mine seemed to get used to the heat and are no longer aborting buds but I'm watering fairly often. One thing I have noticed is that it really benefits from as much sun as possible, some in a location that is shaded by early afternoon are now less than 1/4th the size of the rest, though I'm not watering them as much either.

 

[seedcorn]

So far have eaten 4 fried pans of. Once rains started, they are bearing. Saved seed as last year getting seed was hard, so I have a variety of types it seems. Some are giving me blond pods that I will save seed from. These blond ones get large pods and don't go woody as quick. the dark green ones go woody quick.

 

[Dave2000]

I haven't been whipping mine deliberately, but eventually the lower leaves yellow then I knock them off. How do you know you're at a point in the season that they should be topped off? A month before the anticipated first frost date?