Well-drained soil is also crucial for okra. Some of okra’s best garden companions are plants that, like okra, need plenty of water. This includes cucumbers, melons, eggplant, and sweet or hot peppers.
What should not be planted near okra?
Tips for Crop Rotation
Okra is very susceptible to nematodes, and nematode populations may boom at the end of the season. Avoid growing squash, sweet potatoes, or solanaceous crops (like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant) after okra (and vice versa), as they may be plagued by nematodes from the previous year.
What should not be planted with watermelon?
For companion plants, you’re going to want to plant it with things like radishes, lettuces & then avoid things like cucumber, zucchini, and basically anything in the melon family. Basically they make it difficult for the plants to grow and mature and can attract diseases.
What grows best near okra?
From radishes to sunflowers, these companion plants will help your okra crop reach its full potential.
- Radishes. Radish seedlings work well near okra because the roots loosen up the soil as they grow, making it easier in turn for okra to grow and thrive.
- Cucumbers.
- Peppers.
- Melons.
- Lettuce.
What does okra like to be planted next to?
Plants like chamomile, wormwood, chives, summer savory, coriander, tansy, yarrow, dill, mint, thyme, hyssop, chervil, geranium, rue, sage, and oregano are all very beneficial companion plants to okra. These plants repel insect pests (like cabbage moths and spider mites) and attract beneficial insects and pollinators.
What grows well with watermelons?
Watermelon Companions
Cultivate flowering plants — including members of the aster family, like sunflowers, cosmos, coneflowers, and coreopsis, and herbs in the mint family, such as mint, oregano, thyme, and rosemary — to attract sweat bees and other pollinators.
Can you plant tomatoes next to okra?
Another plant you can grow alongside okra is tomatoes. When companion planted, tomatoes act as a trap crop, luring stink bugs away from okra plants. Beyond fruits and vegetables to pair with okra plants, flowers can be a great option to increase pollination in the area.
Can you plant tomatoes next to watermelons?
Warm-season plants like tomatoes and melons thrive together with the same temperature, sun, nutrition and water needs, but they require generous spacing for growth. Plant these crops at the same time, and with the same considerations.
What happens if you plant watermelons too close together?
In the case of spacing watermelon plants, those set too far apart waste valuable garden space while those set too close together compete for light, air and soil nutrients, resulting in a potentially compromised crop.
Can I plant cucumbers next to watermelon?
Because other members of the Cucurbitae family are all attacked by cucumber beetles, planting watermelons next to these crops is not recommended: Cucumbers. Summer squash/zucchini. Pumpkins.
How close can you plant okra?
Space rows 3-feet apart; sow seeds 1-inch deep and 4- to 6-inches apart within the row. When seedlings are several inches tall, thin the row so the remaining plants are spaced 1.5- to 2-feet apart.
Where does okra grow best?
Okra needs full sun. It will grow in ordinary garden soil but does best in fertile loam, particularly where a nitrogen-fixing crop — such as early peas — grew previously.
Can you plant okra close together?
The seeds will germinate better if you soak them for 24 hours before planting and exclude all seeds that are not swollen. If you plant more than one okra plant, sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep and thin to 12 to 18 inches between plants. If you have more than one row, they should be 3 feet apart.
How many okra plants do I need?
Because of the long growing season and hearty production, four or five plants usually produce enough okra for most families. More plants may be needed, though, to can or freeze okra for use during the winter.
When should okra be planted?
Sow okra directly into the garden 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost date and cover the plants with a 2- to 3-foot-high cold frame or grow tunnel until the weather warms up fully. Make sure that the covering is this high so that plants have room to grow.
How deep do okra roots grow?
Work soil deeply wherever you plan to plant okra. The roots can extend four feet deep and even more under favorable conditions. Different sources claim that okra takes to a soil pH as low as 5.8 and as high as 7.5. But again, better conditions produce better yields.
What do you put under watermelon?
When you’ve got watermelon fruits growing, you’ll want to make sure they don’t touch the soil. In order to grow great watermelons, you’ll need to put a barrier between the watermelons and the ground. This is to reduce the risk of rot and disease. Good ground barriers are straw, or even cardboard.
How do you speed up the growth of a watermelon?
To maximize the size of the melon, water the plants regularly in deep water sessions that keep the soil moist. Side dress the Watermelon plants with fertilizer prepared for edible crops or fertilizer tea to feed the plants. Fertilizer encourages growth to produce large melons.
How far apart should watermelons be planted?
Watermelons need a lot of room. Seeds or transplants should be planted in rows spaced 6 to 8 feet apart. Plants should be spaced 5 to 6 feet apart within the row.
Can you plant cucumbers next to okra?
Nasturtiums are great for deterring insect pests as well. And okra is a good companion for more delicate flowers. Ground covering plants like melons and cucumber are excellent for preventing the growth of weeds that can sap nutrients from your okra. Okra grows tall providing shade for cucurbits that prefer dappled sun.
How do you keep bugs off okra?
Natural Insecticides
Insecticidal soap is a natural insecticide that will kill many of the pests on your okra. You can buy insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils at garden centers. Neem oil is another choice that is readily available.