Note: This is the last regular column from David Wall.
David Wall
Many gardeners have grown okra never thinking past Clemson Spinless which are good out to 4”. While they can grow to 8”, flavor goes down and toughness goes up, making pods tough to chew and swallow! Other varieties such as Louisiana are good to 10” but will grow to 16”.
With spineless okra as a standard, pods on an individual stem are mostly 1-2. Jambalaya okra may have 4 pods at any one time. There is, however, a species called heavy hitter okra that may have 2-3 times that number at any one time. Heavy Hitter Okra (Abelmoscus esculentus) is a multi-branching species having high quality flavor, maturing quickly at 56-65 days, and holding the record for season long production in Oklahoma.
At any one-time heavy hitter can have anywhere from 20-40 pods. Season long production can be anywhere from 150 -220 pods. Stem height is 5-7’, which is standard, but branches may extend the plant diameter out to 5’. Row separation recommendation is 2-3’, but at 2’, walking between rows may be difficult. Pods can grow 6-8”, but picking recommendations are 3-4”.
Conditions for growing heavy hitter are similar to those of other okra species. You should sow seeds indoor 4-6 weeks before the last frost. In Mt Pleasant, I usually start seeds the last week of March. Our last frost is usually around 15 April, but I don’t like to transplant before 01 May. Transplanting is OK once each plant has developed 2-3 true leaves.
I have never done it, but the literature recommends loosening the soil around the roots when transplanting. You did NOT hear me say this, but after germination, I gently fertilize with miracle grow at least once a week when watering. That’s the one & only time you’ll ever hear recommend a synthetic fertilizer!