How Many Okra Per Plant? Okra is considered a relatively unusual vegetable that is not as widely known as many of the other common plants that we eat from the local grocery store every day. However, if you are a little bit adventurous and want to try growing okra in your own garden you may want to know how many okra fruits can you get from a plant.
Each okra plant typically produces approximately 8 to 10 fruit per plant per season according to a study by University of Sultan Ageng. The study found that increased levels of fertilization and a spacing of approximately 10 inches between the plants gave the best results. To produce the fruit it will typically take approximately 12 to 14 weeks from the date of planting to start producing fruit.
How To Grow Okra
Okra is a frost-sensitive vegetable that requires relatively warm conditions to thrive. To ensure that you are able to get the most out of planting the vegetable most gardeners plant it as early as is practically possible in the season.
Given its need for relative warmth, it is recommended that you start the seeds off in seed trays inside in early spring. About the earliest that you can start these plants off is around 4 to 6 weeks prior to the last frost. However, if you want to really get the seeds off to a good start it is best to use a heated propagation tray rather than just placing the tray inside.
The reason for this is that heated propagation trays provide constant and controlled heat to the seedlings which will optimize the rate of growth and ensure a 100% germination rate. If you are considering purchasing a heated propagation tray the one we would recommend is the ipower germination kit.
The reason for this is that the unit contains a removable modular seed tray and a humidity dome which are both important features that will maximize the output and longevity of the unit. The removable modular seed tray is important because it is the component of the unit that is most likely to deteriorate first as such being able to replace this part will ensure that the lifetime of the unit is maximized.
The humidity dome is also a very important feature because it traps the heat generated from the unit and maintains a humid environment that is ideal for growing seedlings. To see the latest price click on the link below.
Get Off To An Early Start With A Heated Propagation Tray
If you are planting in a seed tray start by filling it up with good quality seed raising mix and then plant 1 to 2 seedlings per module at a depth of approximately half an inch. Once the seeds have been planted water them regularly to ensure that the plants remain moist.
Seedlings will typically take approximately 7 to 21 days to appear depending upon the conditions in which the seedlings are grown. Typically the seedlings will need to spend approximately 6 weeks in the seed tray however it may be necessary to remove the humidity dome from the seed tray as okra seedlings can get relatively tall.
Once the seedlings are large enough to be planted out into the garden they should be placed in a warm location that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sun per day. In terms of soil conditions, okra plants prefer rich moist, and free-draining soil that is slightly acidic and contains plenty of nutrients. To ensure that this is the case it is advisable to add a bag of compost prior to planting.
The plants should be spaced approximately 15 to 20 inches apart and the soil should be mulched heavily to retain as much moisture as possible.
As okra is a relatively heat-loving plant it is also advisable to use a row cover, if possible, as this will accelerate the rate of growth and maximize the harvest. As okra is a relatively tall plant the row covers need to be sufficiently large to accommodate these plants.
If you need to purchase a row cover the one that we would recommend is the growsun row cover because it is relatively tall and has long hoops that can be pushed into the soil a long way providing additional stability to the row cover in windy conditions. To see the latest price on Amazon click on the link below.
Extend Your Season With Growsun Row Covers
In most cases, pods will begin to appear on the plant approximately 2 months after it has been transplanted into the garden. As the pods can become tough if they get too old it is advisable to regularly visit the plant once it starts to produce fruit. The fruit should be harvested as it appears to optimize the quality.
The okra will continue to produce fruit on an ongoing basis until the first frost of the season at which point the plant will begin to wither and die.
I hope you found this article useful and have great success with your okra plants if you have any additional questions or comments please leave them in the section below.
Relevant Articles
How Much Does One Zucchini Plant Yield?
How Much Does A Pepino Plant Produce?
How Much Warmer Is An Unheated Greenhouse?
How Much Does A Bell Pepper Plants Produce?
