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Okra is a Southern favorite
Okra is a fast-growing, heat-loving tropical annual found in the wild along the White Nile, which drains in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia. It probably originated somewhere around Ethiopia, and was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians by the 12th century B.C. Its cultivation spread throughout North Africa and the Middle East1. Okra was introduced to the Americas by ships plying the Atlantic slave trade by 1658, when its presence was recorded in Brazil. It was further documented in Suriname in 1686. Okra may have been introduced to southeastern North America from Africa in the early 18th century. By 1748, it was being grown as far north as Philadelphia2
Okra flowers are gorgeous
Growing okra won't only get you delicious food to eat, but it can also add a burst of energy to any vegetable garden.
The flower that emerges from an okra plant bears a striking resemblance to another one of its relatives: hibiscus.
North Central Texas is the perfect spot to start sprouting your own crop. It easily survives our triple digit temperatures.
Okra grows best in a location that gets plenty of direct sun. They do great either in the ground or in large containers that have good drainage.
Some varieties can get very tall. So choose a space or a pot that can accommodate the mature size without it becoming confined or crowding neighboring plants.
Okra is a heat and sun loving plant. It will not grow in temperatures less than 60°F (15.5°C), so don’t try to plant it early.
As they grow tall, okra plants can start to cast shadows over each other. So space them according to the anticipated final size. Too much shade will reduce flowering, as well as pod production and growth.
Okra is one of the more drought tolerant vegetables. It doesn’t like wet feet and can handle some periods of dryness.
But too little water can lead to wilting and stunted growth, especially when the plant begins producing flowers and pods. Provide 1” weekly, then let it dry out slightly between drinks.
Heat is your friend when growing okra. It prefers temperatures in the range of 70-85°F (21-29.4°C).
The plants can even tolerate extreme highs of 100°F (37.7°C), but extended hot periods will require more frequent water.
Anything cooler than 60°F (15.5°C) can stunt or stall growth, and any type of frosts or freezes will quickly kill the plant.
