Okra is one of those plants that is an excellent addition to your garden. This fantastic plant produces many tasty pods during its growing season, which can easily be stored in a fridge, freezer, or even canned to enjoy later. So how much fruit can you expect from your okra plants?
One okra plant will produce around ten pods. However, okra plants thrive in warmer climates and can produce up to 30 pods if you care for them properly. The variety planted and the health of the plant can also affect your okra pod yield.
In the rest of this article, I will go over important topics such as how often you should harvest okra, the best way to do so, tips for growing more pods, and a few frequently asked questions about growing okra. So if you would like to learn a little more about producing okra plants, let’s dive right in.
How Often Should You Harvest Okra Pods?
Okra can grow quite massive for a garden plant and begin to produce pods quickly once mature. If you have noticed that your okra plants have begun producing pods, and they are about four inches (10.16 cm) in length, it’s probably time to start harvesting. But how often should you harvest them?
You should harvest your okra pods every one to two days. Harvesting okra regularly allows for the plant to keep producing pods. If you live in a warmer climate, you may have to harvest daily since warm okra plants produce more pods quickly.
The more often you can harvest, the more pods your okra plant will be able to grow in their place. Okra thrives when its pods are harvested regularly, and it receives pruning as needed. An unruly plant will struggle to produce more than a tidily kept one.
The Best Way To Harvest Okra Pods
Harvesting okra pods is quite simple and can be done with minimal effort. The most challenging part of harvesting okra is the frequency at which the pods need to be taken from the plant. So let’s get started learning about the best ways to harvest your okra pods.
First, you will need:
- Gloves
- A sharp knife or pruning shears
- A basket to place harvested okra
Okra has small spines which can easily scratch or irritate your skin. This is why it’s essential to wear gloves whenever you intend to harvest or prune your okra plant. Though their tiny spikes aren’t poisonous or incredibly harmful, the scratches they can cause are pretty uncomfortable, so it’s best to wear a pair of gloves.
Also, if you don’t have a good pair of harvesting shears, I recommend Fiskars Pruning Shears (available on Amazon.com). These shears are great because they have steel blades and are quite sturdy.
How to harvest okra pods easily:
- Identify okra pods that are about two days old. Okra pods can be harvested at one day of age as well. When harvesting okra, look for pods that have grown to at least three or four inches (7.62-10.16 cm) in length. Pods that exceed four inches (10.16 cm) generally become bitter and tough, so be sure to harvest the pods before they grow too large to taste good.
- Cut the pods from the okra plant. Cut just above the pod’s cap using a knife or shears, and the okra fruit should release quite easily. If you have difficulty removing the pod, it may be bad, and you will want to throw it away.
- Place harvested okra in your basket and repeat on each plant. Once all the mature pods have been removed, you are finished and should come back the next day to check for new pods ready to be harvested.
As you can see, harvesting okra pods is so simple, and it’s really a matter of monitoring your plant’s growth and assessing pods that are ready to be removed. Remember to always wear gloves and never allow pods to grow too large.
Tips for Growing More Okra Pods
Now that you know what to expect from your okra plants and how to harvest their pods, it’s time to learn about some of the ways you can increase pod production. Okra is a truly hardy plant and honestly produces quite well with very little outside help. However, there are still several ways to improve your okra plant’s yield.
These are the best ways to increase your okra pods for harvest:
- Plant okra somewhere warm. Okra plants love the heat and will produce more pods in warmer climates. Okra prefers temperatures between 75-90 °F (24-32 °C). If you don’t live somewhere warm, using a greenhouse can help to simulate the heat needed for your okra to feel warm enough to produce extra pods.
- Add chicken manure to the soil. Chicken manure is a great way to increase your okra plant’s pod production due to all the nutrients found in it. Studies show that pod production can be doubled by using chicken dung to fertilize your okra.
- Add compost to your soil. Mixing compost into your okra’s soil is a fantastic way to provide much-needed nutrients to your plants. Composts’ rich organic makeup helps okra plants grow larger and yield more pods.
- Use mulch. Mulch is a great way to combat weeds and lock much-needed moisture into the soil. High-quality mulches such as straw or pine needles layered a few inches deep will work best.
- Water regularly. Okra doesn’t need a ton of water to live, but you should still water at least once per week, or your plants will dry out. Though okra is generally drought resistant, you will notice a decrease in pod production without proper watering.
- Space your okra at least 12 ft (3.66 m) apart when planting. Okra needs plenty of space since they tend to grow quite large. Without proper spacing, your plants will likely not get enough sun and produce fewer pods.
- Keep your okra’s garden bed weed-free. An established okra plant should have no problem fending off weeds. However, keeping your plant bed weeded will ensure that your okra and weeds aren’t competing for the soil’s water or nutrients.
- Ensure that your okra’s soil has good drainage. Okra must have soil that drains well, as it will not do well in marshy dirt. Sitting in poorly draining soil can cause your plant to produce fewer pods and even die.
- Plant varieties of okra that produce more pods. Some varieties, such as Clemson spineless okra, tend to produce pods quickly and for longer. Fast-producing okra plants are a great option if you want to get the most out of your harvest.
- Harvest regularly. The more you harvest, the more pods will grow. If you slow down or stop harvesting your okra pods, your plant will gradually begin to stop producing them. It also doesn’t hurt to prune back some of your okra plants to prevent them from growing too tall and making it easier to harvest.
You can use several methods to increase how many pods your okra plants give off during the growing season. Utilizing these tips is especially helpful if you are trying to grow a large amount of okra for a family of four or more.
Okra naturally produces quite well in the right circumstances, and the type of okra you plant can significantly affect the pod yield. Therefore, you should always do your research before selecting a plant variety, especially if the quantity of pods is important to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When Does Okra Reach Maturity?
Okra reaches maturity at two months. They are considered mature once they have begun to flower. Once flowers appear, you should begin to see okra pods within a week. When the pods have reached around four inches (10.16 cm) long, it’s time to harvest.
Q: How Long Do Okra Plants Keep Producing?
Okra plants keep producing for around ten to 12 weeks, though this number can vary based on climate temperature, plant health, water, and how often the okra pods are harvested. Okra can sometimes live up to a year when cared for properly.
Conclusion
Ultimately how much your okra plant will produce can significantly vary based on several factors. Okra tends to produce quite well, but specific criteria need to be met in order for the plant to thrive and produce plenty of pods.
