Do Okra Plants Need to Be Planted Next to Each Other?

Thick to Thin

• Vegetable seeds respond well when sown in a thick to thin method. Spread seeds liberally; overplant instead of trying to space them as you sow them. After okra seeds germinate and grow to about 5 inches, thin the plants to 15 to 24 inches between them dependent on the height of the variety. One seeding is sufficient. Plants continue to produce pods throughout the harvesting season. Remove overgrown or tough pods keeps the plants active and flowering.

With Other Plants

• Considered a common garden vegetable, okra thrives in rows or patches and grows well in among other types of garden plants. Okra tends to be low maintenance and presents high yields, making it a continual favorite. Place taller varieties of okra behind smaller plants to avoid blocking sunlight. Avoid letting plants get overcrowded. This causes a lack of air movement around soil and foliage, root entanglement and debris from dead leaves. Keep the area between plants debris-free to help avoid pest problems.

East to West

• The University of Georgia recommends placing the rows of okra seeds in an east to west pattern. This method gives plants the longest exposure to direct sunlight. Okra prefers as much full sun as possible. Blossom blight, a condition that damages the plants, persists in damp soil and rainy periods. Full sun helps to keep blossom blight from developing on okra crops. When planting okra, make sure the soil is at 65 degrees F or warmer.

Harvesting Okra

• Placing okra plants in straight rows with adequate room to walk between them means a more efficient job of harvesting the pods. Young pods grow in among the foliage, and planting the okra in rows makes it easier to see and reach them. Harvesting okra is a continual process starting shortly after the okra plants flower. Pods become ready to pick every few days. Left to mature, the pods become tough and undesirable for eating.