Growing Clemson Okra in Small Spaces

Growing Clemson Okra in Small Spaces:

A Complete Guide to Growing Delicious Okra on Your Patio or Raised Bed

Okra is a popular vegetable in many parts of the world, particularly in the southern United States, where it’s often used in dishes like gumbo and yummy old-fashioned fried okra. If you’re short on space, but still want to enjoy the delicious and nutritious benefits of okra, you might consider growing the Clemson variety of okra in your small garden. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at why you might want to choose the Clemson Okra variety to grow, how to grow it in small spaces, when to expect a good harvest and more.

One okra plant will produce enough pods for a snack, but you’ll want to plant 4-6 plants per person for a good, healthy harvest. Here, one okra plant is being grown in a large planter on a sunny patio with baby greens which get harvested in just about 30 days. Once baby green leaves are cut off, plants are removed and new compost is added into the planter which will feed and refresh the okra plant.

The Clemson variety of okra is a popular choice for food gardeners due to its several attractive characteristics including:

Spineless: most varieties of okra have spines on their stems and leaves, making them difficult to handle and tend to. When growing okra in small spaces, on a patio, around kids or pets, spineless okra varieties like Clemson tend to be a better (less prickly!) choice
Early maturity: this variety of okra matures early, in just about 50 days or when pods are about 2.5″ long, so you can enjoy fresh pods from your garden in a shorter period of time compared with most other varieties
Suitable to grow in zones 1-11: Clemson has a tolerance for heat and humidity making it a great choice to grow most anywhere during the spring and early summer in direct sun
High yields: this variety is known for its high yields, producing an abundant crop of tender, juicy and delicious pods approximately 2.5″ to 3″ in length
Resistant to disease: the Clemson okra variety is resistant to many of the common diseases that can affect okra plants, including mosaic virus and verticillium

Spineless Okra is easier to handle in small space gardening

Okra comes in both spiny and spineless varieties. Spiny okra has prickly stems and leaves, while spineless okra varieties like Clemson okra, have smooth stems and leaves. The main difference between the two is that spineless varieties are easier to handle and pick, making them a popular choice especially for small space food gardening. However, some people prefer the spiny varieties for their tougher texture and more robust flavor.

What's the best season to plant okra?

The best season to plant okra depends on your location and climate, but in general, okra is a warm-season crop that is best planted when the soil has warmed up to at least 60-65°F (15-18°C). In most regions of the United States, hardiness zones 1-11, this is typically during the spring or early summer.

Clemson okra is particularly tolerant to heat and humidity, making it a great choice to grow where it may be hard to grow most other varieties of okra, like South Florida. In areas like South Florida where summers are very hot, it’s best to plant okra in early spring. In cooler climates with mild summers, okra can be planted later in the spring, but should be harvested before temperatures become too hot.

It’s also possible to plant a second crop of okra in the late summer for a fall harvest, but this depends on your local climate and growing conditions.

Steps to plant okra from seed to harvest

Here are the steps to plant okra from seed to harvest:

Choose a suitable site: Okra prefers well-drained soil in a location that receives full sun. If you’re planting in a container, choose a container that is at least 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Clemson okra grows from 36″ – 48″ tall.
Use healthy soil: use a nutrient-rich vegetable garden soil or work compost into garden soil, to improve fertility and soil structure.
Sow the seeds: plant okra seeds about 1/2 inch deep and 2-3 feet apart in rows, or away from other planted okra. Water the seeds immediately after planting.
Germination: Clemson okra typically takes 14-21 days for a plant to emerge. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Thin seedlings: if multiple seeds were planted, keep the strongest and move the weaker smaller ones to another container or space keeping focus on the strongest seedlings.
Support may be needed: Clemson okra is a fairly lanky plant that grows to 3-4 feet but because pods are somewhat smaller than other varieties, using a trellis or support system may not be necessary. If the space is windy, if your okra plant becomes top heavy, add a stake or cage to provide support as needed.
Watering: okra needs regular watering, especially during higher temperatures and hotter dryer periods. Soil should remain somewhat moist, but never waterlogged as this can cause rot and other issues.
Fertilizing: starting with a healthy nutrient-rich soil will create healthy plants from the start, but it’s important to apply a balanced fertilizer every month or so to maintain that healthy growth and produce abundant yields.
Harvesting: Clemson okra is ready to harvest in just about 50-60 days, when pods are about 2.5″ long. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production.

How many okra plants to plant per person in a household?

For a household of one or two people, it is recommended to plant about 4 to 6 okra plants. This will give you enough okra to enjoy fresh or cook with, and still have some to spare. However, keep in mind that okra plants are productive and can produce an abundant harvest, so you may want to start with a smaller number of plants and adjust as needed. If you find that you’re not using all of the okra that your plants are producing, you can always share with friends and neighbors or preserve the excess for later.

Clemson Okra is a great Variety to grow for most All Zones

Clemson okra is a great variety to grow for most areas, even in smaller space gardens. Use a large pot on a sunny patio to grow okra. Plant okra in a small sunny raised garden bed. Even in South Florida where most okra is difficult to grow, Clemson okra produces like a champ! Keep the soil healthy, water regularly, and you’ll most likely be able to start eating fresh nutritious okra in just two months after planting your seeds.