Sure wish I had seen this video two months ago…I’ve gotten exactly five okras from twelve plants this year…I will save this post for NEXT year…thank you for sharing 😊
I noticed this is similar to advice on peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants I have seen. It concentrates energy of the plant into growing taller and ripening fruits on top, instead of focusing on leaf, stem, and side shoots production that slows down the fruiting process. Another benefit for plants is removing leaves too close to soil so no soil-borne diseases splash onto the leaves during watering or a rain spell. It also improves the air circulation around plants, and brings more light to smaller plants that were too shaded. Would you think wood chip or straw mulch could help okra too? This is the second time I decided to try growing okra, the first time was when I was in my early 20s and I still recall how pretty the flowers were like a mallow and how the pods were ripe so fast! I live in Washington State in zone 8b, and am taking advantage of the 100 degrees and 90 degrees weather! Why complain about no AC when we got food?
It is nice to meet you. 😊 We would love to see your garden way up north, I know it is beautiful! I have been in that neck of the woods before. If the climate in which you have no issues with mold, I would say yes to the mulch. At another location, we found the okra love the moisture that hay or straw provides. With soil that drains well, this is a great benefit to a garden. Our gardening set up at the other location, the whole garden was a no-till garden. We covered the ground around the base with recycled boxes out of the trash. Then we stacked about 5 inches of hay on top. When the hay flattened, it settled to about an inch and a half. It was 103° f that summer. The Okra thrived like I had never seen it before. Huge I tell ya! We had stalks that were 6 inches around at the base and 10 feet tall. Beautiful! I hope you can find something in our garden experience to help along the way. I really thank you for taking the time to chat. It is an honor on my part. ✌️
