Topic: Anyone up for the Okra challenge this year?

[cleo]

Post a pic-pm me your secrets and chose a recipe-you could be the lucky winner ;D

[mickb]

1-Open to UK based folk only( sorry but that`s the way it is)

2-A `decent` crop means at least 8 good fruit per plant.

3- the winner/winners to divulge their secrets for the benefit of mere mortals

LBB, they look fantastic, well done.  I think the rule was to have 8 fruits on a plant, not necessarily all at the same time as if you leave them too long the okra over ripen and become woody.  I think they should be picked after a few days.

I have been away for a week and come home to much improvement.  My largest plant is now 11.5 inches tall, with all 17 plants still healthy.

No 1 plant , "El Presidente" as he is now affectionately known,  has got 3 buds on him.

Not as far along as LBB's magnificent crop but maybe a challenger.

[markfield rover]

I have only three plants left and can only see a few buds so I am no threat  to Cleo.
So LBB and mickb  go,go, go.

[Jeannine]

Hang on a minute there!!!! I am not much online cos I am home computerless till tomorrow but my Okra is doing pretty good..not 8 to a plant but how about 5 . We are hanging in stillXX Jeannine

[markfield rover]

Go,go Jeannine too, it is like those old cowboy film,you must go on without me, I'll be okay off into the sunset,
Glad to see you back.

[mickb]

still no fruit but the largest plant is now 20" high.  That is an 8.5 inch growth in 2 weeks.  Lots of buds, now eagerly awaiting the first flowers.

Mick B

[Tin Shed]

Blasted things died - considering all the care they got you would think they would have tried a bit harder!

[Eristic]

My leading effort has one fruit about 2" long with flower no 2 just finished and lots of buds.

[Doris_Pinks]

YOU ALL HAVE FRUIT???? Mine are barely big enough to be called a plant! :'(
And I was so looking forward to a delicious okra gumbo from Cleo! ;D

[dtw]

Mine are still only 8 inches tall with a couple of unopened buds.  :-[

[mickb]

I can't be bothered with all the kerfuffle (such a lovely word, wonder if I spelt it correctly) of posting a photo on another site and linking it so I have put some in my gallery. 

The later photo shows the temperature in the conservatory as 28 and the temp in the growbag as 35.  You can see the growbag is permanently positioned on a propogation tray to keep the temp up.

The plants between the okra are cape gooseberries, they seem to be growing now as well.

And there are some Cayenne chillies behind and to the right.

[Eristic]

2

[organicandy]

Hi,everyone,    you know sometimes people can grow some plants from seed very well but cannot for the life of them grow certain things,ie OKRA , well im the other way round, i can grow OKRA but for the life of me i can not grow good caulis,there are a few points to growing okra which are very usefull to know but be prepared to throw away the rule book when trying, regards all, Organicandy

[Hyacinth]

Hi,everyone,    you know sometimes people can grow some plants from seed very well but cannot for the life of them grow certain things,ie OKRA , well im the other way round, i can grow OKRA but for the life of me i can not grow good caulis,there are a few points to growing okra which are very usefull to know but be prepared to throw away the rule book when trying, regards all, Organicandy

What a Tease you are, Candy! C'mon then.....WOT'S YER SECRET? ::)

I reckon it's all down to Location, Location, Location - and you're posting from your lottie in the Bahamas ;D

[organicandy]

I wish i was posting from the bahamas, im acctualy posting from sunny west yorkshire honestly,  now get ready to throw away the rule book/
 
         just one lesson at a time im afraid

 lesson 1,         sheep s*it in a hessian sack.

lesson 2 on request lol     regards Andy

[Robert_Brenchley]

I assume you make an aqueous solution of the nuts, and apply that to the plants.

[organicandy]

Hi, you assume correctly, put the sheep droppings in a hessian type sack and submerse in a water butt/ use the liquid feed at 50/50 parts clean water and feed twice a week until fruits start to develop, then feed every other day until harvest, also important to remember is to slightly shade your greenhouse roof, this is where you throw away the rule book, keep greenhouse doors and windows closed at all times so has not let any heat escape, (alternatively you can make a greenhouse in a greenhouse ) by which i mean er recting a separate part of your greenhouse using a simple frame with a pull down plastic/ polythene enclosure which you can keep closed and hot all the time, this works well because you can have the doors and windows open if you want to grow toms in the rest of your greenhouse,  pollinate with a very soft brush and mist once a day with greenhouse temperature water(this is crucial to success) .regards Andy

[littlebabybird]

hi andy do you have any pics of your okra?
lbb

[organicandy]

Hi,sorry i dont have any pics has ive dedicated all my greenhouse to toms and peppers this year(plus 1000 Dahlias) truth is i cant stand Okra, i only ever grew it for familly and friends,
         this method was passed down to me by my grandfather who grew Okra many years before us newer gardeners ever heard of it

[littlebabybird]

I'm growing mine coz i found this challenge before i had started growing much, mine are growing so well
we have all decided we dont like the stuff though
do you know when they stop fruiting
lbb