Do you need a trellis for okra?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Growing okra lines can be a shock to a lot of gardeners as that could create an undue amount of space and weigh down many okra. The plant has strong and thick, fibrous stems that can grow between 3 and 8 feet tall depending on the growing environment. I have grown okra in Kansas winds without support, but I staked the plants after two mature okra fell over after a storm as I wanted them to be straight and not leaned over.
Natural Stem Strength
- Stems thicken to 1.5-inch diameter at maturity
- Internal fibers resist bending under pod weight
- Wind tolerance increases after 12 inches of growth
When to Stake
- Regions with sustained 15+ mph winds
- Sandy soils lacking root anchorage
- Overhead irrigation causing top-heavy growth
The components of the soil matter more than how tall of a plant a soil can support. In Missouri, I have a garden with clay-rich soil that can support 7-foot okra plants with no staking done. However, the sandy soils of Florida during my visit needed 18-inch stakes for a 4-foot-tall plant. To test the soil, dig a hole about 12 inches deep, the walls will crumble apart easily if the soil is not stable and you should plan on providing input support.
Installing the stake requires some sort of timing. Install 4-foot wooden stakes, sinking them 6 inches deep, once your plants reach 18 inches in height. The ties should be of soft cloth, I repurposed old T-shirts. Do not use wire which can cut into the stem of your plant.Angle the stake 15 degrees away from the plant for sway so as not to restrict growth.
Dwarf varieties make small-space gardening much easier. My Baby Bubba okra plants produced 30 pods each, in a 2-foot-wide raised bed!! Their growth habit requires no support, even in coastal winds. For edible landscaping, pair them with marigolds, which deter nematodes and add color!
Read the full article: How to Grow Okra: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
