Can you grow okra in So CA?

peebee · February 8, 2011

I have tried for the past 2 years to grow okra in my zone. Live a few miles from the coast a bit south of Los Angeles. Last year, one plant from seed did grow, but it was small and produced one lonely weird shaped okra that was inedible.
No local nurseries ever stock plants either, so I guess that tells me-DUH!-that it will not grow here. I see them at the farmers markets, but they must be from up north from me.
Perhaps any one of you has tried or can give me pointers?

Thanks!

RinTinTin · February 8, 2011

Okra needs heat AND humidity. It is native to tropical W. Africa.

ireilly · February 9, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by peebee

I have tried for the past 2 years to grow okra in my zone. Live a few miles from the coast a bit south of Los Angeles. Last year, one plant from seed did grow, but it was small and produced one lonely weird shaped okra that was inedible.
No local nurseries ever stock plants either, so I guess that tells me-DUH!-that it will not grow here. I see them at the farmers markets, but they must be from up north from me.
Perhaps any one of you has tried or can give me pointers?

Thanks!

I agree with RTT but I would modify that to say that heat and light are more important than humidity, as we simply don't have as much humidity as Houston and NOLA, two other moist places I have lived. Dallas is usually pretty dry mostly.

I grew Clemson Spineless in raised beds here last year and the ones that got the most light and heat were stout plants that produced continually. Most were about 2 inches in diameter at the base.

When the temperatures dropped in October and November the plants simply stopped growing, so if you have low temperatures or sunlight that might be the reason for your experience. They must have direct sunlight or they will be spindly and low yielding.

Only issue with this variety is that the pods will get tough once they get bigger than about 4 inches or so.

I have a good bit of seed I got last May left over, if anyone wants some they can PM me. Many people either can't grow it or don't like it because of the slime inside the pods, which frying tends to evaporate. I like okra in gumbo too though.

Walter

b54red · February 10, 2011

I have grown okra for years and it needs a lot of water and not only hot days but hot nights as well.

recruiterg · February 10, 2011

What is the farthest north it can be successfully grown? I am in Minneapolis and thinking of giving it a shot this year.

habitat_gardener · February 10, 2011

I grew a few plants one year and got a few pods. I'd been told that it doesn't grow here in northern Calif. (cool dry summers, with nights in the 50s or rarely, and in a warm year, 60s), so I had to try it. I also saw a very happy and productive plant at the master gardener demo garden, which is warmer than my site and not windy, and they watered theirs a lot more. They grew a red variety from Seeds of Change, probably Red Velvet:
http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_...tem_no=PS15999
So it depends on your microclimate and how much attention you're willing to give it.

Sandhill says the variety Emerald "yields well (even in the north)."

salix · February 10, 2011

We shall see, I plan to try a few up here in northern B. C.!!

bitterwort · February 10, 2011

Sure, you can grow it in Minneapolis, recruiterg. I've grown White Velvet and Aunt Hettie's Red (Victory Seeds) and a couple of shorter types, both by direct seeding and from transplants (carefully, they supposedly don't like their roots disturbed). Aunt Hettie was about 7' by the end of the season, at least in a warm summer. There are always a couple of growers at the Minneapolis Farmers' Market offering it as well. Give it a shot!

recruiterg · February 11, 2011

Thanks Bitterwort...I tried to get down to Dowling CG this summer a few times, but my son's crazy sport schedule prevented me. I plan to check it out some time this summer.

freelancer79d · February 11, 2011

I grow Okra in SOCAL. It does great for me!!! I plant Clemson Spinless.

b54red · February 18, 2011

One other thing on okra is that it needs a lot of fertilizer to produce well. I give mine heavy feedings of liquid fertilizer every week or two especially once it starts setting pods. It really needs a good supply of nitrogen on a regular basis because it depletes the soil so fast. My plants generally get about 10 feet tall. If they don't get enough water and nutrients they stop producing or produce only small pithy pods. For the okra pods to get good size without getting pithy they need to grow very fast. You should have to cut them every other day and sometimes during peek production every day.

February 8, 2011	#1
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	Can you grow okra in So CA? I have tried for the past 2 years to grow okra in my zone. Live a few miles from the coast a bit south of Los Angeles. Last year, one plant from seed did grow, but it was small and produced one lonely weird shaped okra that was inedible. No local nurseries ever stock plants either, so I guess that tells me-DUH!-that it will not grow here. I see them at the farmers markets, but they must be from up north from me. Perhaps any one of you has tried or can give me pointers? Thanks!

February 10, 2011	#8
bitterwort Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MN Zone4b Posts: 292	Sure, you can grow it in Minneapolis, recruiterg. I've grown White Velvet and Aunt Hettie's Red (Victory Seeds) and a couple of shorter types, both by direct seeding and from transplants (carefully, they supposedly don't like their roots disturbed). Aunt Hettie was about 7' by the end of the season, at least in a warm summer. There are always a couple of growers at the Minneapolis Farmers' Market offering it as well. Give it a shot! __________________ Bitterwort

February 8, 2011	#2
RinTinTin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 581	Okra needs heat AND humidity. It is native to tropical W. Africa.

February 10, 2011	#4
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I have grown okra for years and it needs a lot of water and not only hot days but hot nights as well.

February 10, 2011	#5
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	What is the farthest north it can be successfully grown? I am in Minneapolis and thinking of giving it a shot this year.

February 10, 2011	#6
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I grew a few plants one year and got a few pods. I'd been told that it doesn't grow here in northern Calif. (cool dry summers, with nights in the 50s or rarely, and in a warm year, 60s), so I had to try it. I also saw a very happy and productive plant at the master gardener demo garden, which is warmer than my site and not windy, and they watered theirs a lot more. They grew a red variety from Seeds of Change, probably Red Velvet: http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_...tem_no=PS15999 So it depends on your microclimate and how much attention you're willing to give it. Sandhill says the variety Emerald "yields well (even in the north)."

February 10, 2011	#7
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	We shall see, I plan to try a few up here in northern B. C.!!

February 11, 2011	#9
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Thanks Bitterwort...I tried to get down to Dowling CG this summer a few times, but my son's crazy sport schedule prevented me. I plan to check it out some time this summer.

February 11, 2011	#10
freelancer79d Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lancaster, California Posts: 233	I grow Okra in SOCAL. It does great for me!!! I plant Clemson Spinless.

February 18, 2011	#11
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	One other thing on okra is that it needs a lot of fertilizer to produce well. I give mine heavy feedings of liquid fertilizer every week or two especially once it starts setting pods. It really needs a good supply of nitrogen on a regular basis because it depletes the soil so fast. My plants generally get about 10 feet tall. If they don't get enough water and nutrients they stop producing or produce only small pithy pods. For the okra pods to get good size without getting pithy they need to grow very fast. You should have to cut them every other day and sometimes during peek production every day.