What companion plants benefit okra?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Companion planting improves okra growth by pairing them with other crops for natural pest control and resource sharing. Basil repels whiteflies and makes the pods sweeter. Peppers require the same level of sun and water, making them an efficient use of garden space. I plant them every season, so they help grow healthier okra with less chemical input.
Pest Management
- Basil emits oils that deter whiteflies and aphids
- Marigold roots suppress soil nematodes naturally
- Radishes lure beetles away from okra pods
- Nasturtiums trap aphids on their leaves
Growth Enhancement
- Beans fix nitrogen benefiting heavy-feeding okra
- Cucumbers provide ground cover reducing moisture loss
- Sunflowers offer wind protection for tall varieties
- Dill attracts pollinators for better fruit set
Employ spatial arrangements freely, interplant basil with okra. Grow marigolds along the edges of the garden. Sow radishes between the okra plants; they create inventive layers of protection. I utilize the triangular planting patterns to allow for increased air circulation, which helps keep the plants disease-free.
Planting schedules to mutual advantage. Start your basil indoors two weeks before the okra; or, direct-seed it in one of the three steps ahead of the okra, and when the okra emerges, seed radishes in. Transplant the peppers at the same time as the okra. With this staggering, you will be protected to the last possible day of the harvest season.
Avoid harmful companions. Thus, the potato and the sweet potato are bad neighbours, for they take, so to speak, more than their fair share of room. The cucurbitæ are liable to communicate mildew to the leaves of the okra. The best plan is to make tests, here and there, of different combinations, to see how they work out side by side throughout the season. In this way, perfect your plan each year.
Read the full article: How to Grow Okra Successfully
