Okra Help needed

[Roopesh Vakharia]

I am growing OKRA in 5 Gallon Containers, But the bottom leaves get dark and has black spots and then turn yellow and wilt. only top 3 or 4 leaves survive which are as large as these. now they are 2 feet tall but only 3-4 leaves and 2-3 buds. new leaves do sprout but they face the same problem.

Attached pictures

Please help.

 

[DirtMechanic]

At first glance it looks like insects are feeding and passing a virus or bacteria to the plant via their mouth parts. Also possible micro nutrient deficiency. Here is a link that may be of service. Sorry I do not yet know how to shorten the link.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...TAEoQFghbMAw&usg=AOvVaw2_geQAnpsbBIO8edZwrtf2

 

[alp]

Welcome to the forum, @Roopesh Vakharia !​

 

[alp]

Agree with @DirtMechanic !

Your plant needs feeding as the leaves display serious deficiency and it seems to be being attacked by something nasty as well.

 

[Silentrunning]

Are your plants getting full sunlight? I raised Okra for years in 5 gallon buckets with great results. The only things that affected them negatively was lack of water and too much shade.

 

[alp]

@Silentrunning How do you eat your Okra. I have only tried them once and they are boiled. Tasted a bit slimy!

 

[Chuck]

I am growing OKRA in 5 Gallon Containers, But the bottom leaves get dark and has black spots and then turn yellow and wilt. only top 3 or 4 leaves survive which are as large as these. now they are 2 feet tall but only 3-4 leaves and 2-3 buds. new leaves do sprout but they face the same problem.

Attached pictures

Please help.

Okra showing symptoms of very dark green leaves turning a pale green is a phosphorus deficiency. Your pictures show this but they also show signs of either thrips or spider mites. The leaves appear to have been sucked almost dry of chlorophyll thus turning them the light yellowish green blotchy color. I would treat with a high phosphorus plant food and spray the both sides of the leaves with a regimen of Neem Oil. Also on the first and third picture there appears to be a reddish insect. Just to be on the safe side I would also spray with either spinosad (if available) or a pyrethrin.

 

[Silentrunning]

@Silentrunning How do you eat your Okra. I have only tried them once and they are boiled. Tasted a bit slimy!

The secret is to harvest them when they are young. They are still a bit slimy but not bad. We either made gumbo out of them or pickled them. They are great pickled.

 

[DirtMechanic]

@alp fried okra rules! But its good with tomatoes in soups and gumbo and stew also.

 

[Chuck]

I love okra and grow a lot of it. My favorite is fried, second is in gumbo. Don't much care for it in stews though. The best way to preserve okra, (IMO) is to cut it into smaller sized pieces, cover with cornmeal, spread it onto a cookie sheet and freeze it, then put into freezer bags. By doing it this way it is ready to fry up and if you want it in something else just rinse off the cornmeal. But the secret to okra is to as @Silentrunning stated, pick it before it gets too big and tough. Okra pods grow really really fast. You can almost see them growing bigger so it is best to harvest daily.

 

[alp]

I bought a packet of orkas reduced to 30p and have collected the seeds. So I will join the club this year. I will try all methods. I like frying stuff, but the air is just terrible after frying and I feel like I have been fried as well - hot and bothered. But I think if I can get a tempura recipe, I might be onto a winner. Thanks all!

 

[Silentrunning]

I bought a packet of orkas reduced to 30p and have collected the seeds. So I will join the club this year. I will try all methods. I like frying stuff, but the air is just terrible after frying and I feel like I have been fried as well - hot and bothered. But I think if I can get a tempura recipe, I might be onto a winner. Thanks all!

Alp, over here in the colonies we have a Tempura mix that is usually near the fish department in grocery stores. It comes in a yellow box with red and blue lettering I think. I can't remember the name of it to save my life but it is by far the best Tempura I have had. I will find the name the next time I go shopping.

 

[DirtMechanic]

@alp cornmeal, cornmeal, cornmeal! Here is a recipe though we do not add spices. And little cornstarch can help it stick better also.

• 1-1/2 cups sliced fresh or frozen okra, thawed
• 3 tablespoons buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic herb seasoning blend
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• Oil for deep-fat frying
• Additional salt and pepper, optional

 

[Silentrunning]

For those who can't stand the slime on okra, it is easy to remove. Slice your okra in 3/8" (10mm) slices and dump into boiling water. Boil for 2 minutes and then rinse well and drain. That's all there is to it. Don't boil longer than 2 minutes because you can loose the firmness if you are going to fry it.

 

[Roopesh Vakharia]

Thanks for all the help. Have mixed a handfull each of vermicompost, organic fertiliser and neem flakes to the soil. hope it regrows to full strentgh or will change the soil and plant new. will update.