Okra in 5 gallon buckets?
 

I'm wondering if there are others out there that have grown okra in 5 gallon buckets? I'm wanting to do this next summer but don't know whether to try and get a dwarf okra plant or just try any variety? Any advise from experienced container growers is appreciated!

Tell me your favorite okra variety to grow in a container.

Al

I've never grown okra in a container, but Okra is a shallow rooting plant and they should do well. But, I can't imagine more than three or four plants per bucket. I don't like the dwarf varieties because many of them are not so "dwarfish". Clemson Spineless is the best I've grown and it's in my garden every year.

Just remember that they like lots of sun and will be sluggish growing until the temperatures come up. When their world gets nice and warmed up, they go crazy.

I still have three Clemson Spineless growing in a 5 gallon bucket in my greenhouse. They even survived a night without heat when it dropped to 25°. They have slowed down production but I still have three pods growing....one on each plant.

Mac

That's good news guys, if I can get output with 3 of the Clemson Spineless in a 5g bucket then I'll just need one bucket. Baker Creek Seeds has 30-75 seeds for a buck fifty....

Thanks!

I would probably plant a variety like Burmese which is a little less tall and will maintain tenderness to larger size.

3 plants in a 5 gallon bucket would be pushing it in my opinion.

DarJones

Clemson Okra
 

I grew Clemson Okra in 5 gallon pots for the first time this year...great success. I attached a picture in full bloom!

Thanks for the pic Miller, that looks good! What was the maximum height you obtained?

Clemson Okra
 

I believe around 4ft...I kept okra in the container to check the root system. I grew it with garden soil and the Aerator. No potting soil. This pic shows a few other plants...tomatoes, habanero, ghost peppers and squash. All grown from heirloom seeds, it was a fun year. Still have squash in the cellar. Zoe my cat is watching guard..ha!

Thanks for the pic! That tells it all, I'lll grow about 3 plants in 3 five gallon containers this summer....


Allen

Nice cat in the picture.

Worth

[QUOTE=Miller;320387]I believe around 4ft...I kept okra in the container to check the root system. I grew it with garden soil and the Aerator. No potting soil. This pic shows a few other plants...tomatoes, habanero, ghost peppers and squash. All grown from heirloom seeds, it was a fun year. Still have squash in the cellar. Zoe my cat is watching guard..ha![/QUOTE]

What is the "aerator"?

If you keep okra well fertilized and watered it can get huge. I think one plant to a 5 gallon bucket is all you want. I have had okra plants reach 12 ft in height but 8 ft is very common by late summer.

Okra Plant Warrior
 

I used the Plant Warrior Pots, it has the Aerator built in. Wow, 12 to 8 feet....I'm definitely growing more next year with that goal! Wish I had a greenhouse all my bucket plants are gone for the winter except my kumquats...bet my cat Zoe would like a greenhouse too! What else do you plant in pots in addition to tomatoes, peppers & squash?

I purchased Bermuda onions from Dempsey, they included a gift in the package, seeds of Clemson Spineless okra. Never grew okra before. So it is nice to read about it and see the pictures. I assume it is less finicky than tomato. Is it?
thanks

I've grown okra over the years, in rows, never in buckets. When okra starts producing real good, you pick 2 or 3 pods per plant. That is good if you have a 50ft row but for containers you might have to blanch and freeze a few pods each day until you have enough for a recipe. Good luck.