I'm growing okra for the first time this year and was wondering if I should pinch back the plant at all to encourage more growth.Or should I just leave it grow the way it wants to?

well, I've never done that, but just because I haven't doesn't mean it wouldn't do better. Mine gets about 6 feet tall, but I've seen some of Goldpearl's Okra that was 7 or 8 feet tall. she needs a ladder to pick hers. LOL! Maybe she will chime in.

I hadn't thought of that either but since I am only 4'10" I wonder if pinching out the top would force the plant to put out more side shoots at a lower level.

Okra pretty much grows like a weed here in the South. As long as you pick it, it will keep producing. Kind of like Zucchini which just seems to grow well without too much help.

My question on this, since I am also growing okra for the first time:

What I was thinking was, when the seedlings come up and have about 3 sets of true leaves on them, if I pinch the top out, will it branch out, or doesn't okra have branching possibilities?

I need a picture of someone's. Does it grow like a corn stalk, so of course you would not want to pinch out the top.

No one grows it here, so I've never saw one in real life. And books only show the okra, not the whole plant.

I've grown okra and I don't think it will branch. My plants have always top set the fruit. I've grown Annie Oakley and it doesn't get really tall, maybe three feet. The thing about okra is that is is best picked small. Once it gets larger than 2 1/2 inches, the pods can get really fibrous. I like it at about an inch and a half. There is nothing like sauteed okra with a little butter and salt. Good stuff. I'm actually not growing it this year, I decided to do a few other crops in its place. Good luck with yours. I promise I'll grow some next season.

Hi Worm,

Well for pity sakes, I had no idea all the okra is at the top, or am I still not getting an idea on this? Yep, read about keeping up with the pod picking and small is good, but was thinking if pinched, it would branch out, like a real hibiscus plant, since they are in the family, You know, and I'd have more branches for more flowers to admire, and more okra.

Keep talking, I'll try to visualize the best I can!

Lisa, I can't swear all okra sets fruit on top. Just in my gardening experience it has.

This is Clemson spineless. It grows all over the branches. I had some High and Low. So Lisa, your idea might work. It would be a good experiment.

Hairy,

Thanks for the picture. Guess I'll pinch one and let one be. Gosh, those okra pods look huge. Can't wait to see mine!

The variety that grew so tall last year was Red Burgundy. I was told I could top them off so they would bush out more but I didn't try it myself.
Clemson Spineless and Louisiana Longpod might reach 5 feet (average) and be easier to manage.
The Red Burgundy was reel purty tho and tasty, too!

Goldpearl,

thanks for popping in! I'm glad you heard they could be pinched. I figure they will still grow tall, but I wanted them to be bushy too. I must try the pinching!

Another okra question.
My last okra was only tender at about 1 1/2 inches long. Any longer & they were really woody. Was it just the variety or something in how I grew them?
Goldpearl, were your burgandy tender at such a large size or had you let those go to seed?

The Red Burgundy was very tender and slim. They were still slim and tender at a longer stage than the green okra. Some of them looked like pencils!
I use a rule of thumb, if its smaller than my thumb, I give it until next day to pick! The pods magically appear overnight and usually need another day to be just the right size. The ones that I missed, I let go to seed.

Good morning Blue!

So how are you going to handle your okra seedlings? These guys convinced me to pinch one and see.

Oh, one of mine popped up out of the soil this morning! I raced it over to the lights. Hope the other one pops up soon! I'll need both of them to compare pinched and unpinched production.