From radishes to sunflowers, these companion plants will help okra thrive in your garden.
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Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a breeze to grow inSouthern gardens.
The plant is native to Africa and well adapted to summer heat and dry weather.
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The pods grow quickly; for ideal tenderness, harvest them when they are about 3 inches long.
Here are the 10 best okra companion plants.
Companion plants benefit each other in different ways.
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Some plants repel pests orattract pollinators to the garden, which boosts crop production.
Other plants enrich the soil or help control weeds that would otherwise compete with crops for nutrients and water.
Taller plants cast shade on lower ones and the soil, which helps maintain moisture.
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Companion planting also allows you to grow slow-growing plants with faster ones.
Radishes are fast-growing and you could start harvesting about a month after the seedlings emerge.
Cucumbers do not tolerate frost, so plant them after the last frost.
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Planting cucumbers near okra provides them with welcome shade and prevents scorching in hot summer weather.
Peppers
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Cabbage worms hate pepper plants, which is good news for okra.
Put a fewpepper plants nearbyand those pesky worms will stay away.
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Grow them in rich, moist, well-drained soil in full sun.
Like okra, they need warm temperatures to thrive.
Give them organically rich, well-drained soil in full sun where they have some shelter.
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The rambling melon vines will decrease the competition from weeds.
Plus the height difference means okra can shade the melon vines from the full afternoon sun.
Both melons and okra are warm-season crops that like sun and well-draining soil.
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Plant your lettuce in between okra plants.
The shallow roots of the lettuce wont compete with the water and nutrients that okra needs.
Specifically, stink bugs, aphids, and spider mites aren’t big fans of the strong basil aroma.
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Basil thrives in sun and heat, but it can take afternoon shade in hotter climates.
Keep its soil moist but not soggy.
Zinnias thrive in warm temperatures and full sun and bloom from summer through fall.
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Give them moist, well-drained soil.
Some zinnia varietiesneed to be deadheadedto encourage more blooming.
Oregano
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A patch of oregano can be beneficial to your okra crop.
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Oreganos strong fragrance deters pests that seek out okra and attracts pollinators to the garden.
It prospers in sun but benefits from afternoon shade in hotter climates.
Because it is drought-tolerant, it does not take moisture away from okra.
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Pollinators move from the sunflowers to the okra blooms, encouraging okra production.
They also act as a windbreak for more delicate plants in the garden.
Give them lots of sun and loose, well-draining soil.
it’s possible for you to alsopickleokra to preserve it.
Just verify you wait at least two years before planting okra again the same spot.
Space okra plants at least 10 inches apart in the garden.
If you want enough okra for pickling and preserving for later, plant more okra.
Nematode Damage on Okra.
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
