Are you finding companion plants for okra?
Companion planting is an organic method to prevent pests and diseases from your crop. Some companions also increase flavor and give a better harvest.
However, there is not much data about companion plants’ benefits. But, this method is recommended by many experienced gardeners.
In this post, I list all the best companion plants for okra that you can grow for better results.
Plant these companion plants and prevent your crop from the danger of blights and other problems. We’ll see all types of plants that you should plant with okra. There are some plants that you should avoid planting along with okra.
Let’s see them one by one:
Best Companion Plants for Okra
Here is the list of companion plants to grow with okra:
Vegetable Companion Plants For Okra
Below are some vegetables that you can grow along with okra. These veggies are suitable to grow with okra. Growing vegetables with okra will give you two vegetables in a season. And your garden space will be fully optimized. Plus these veggies help each other for better and more.
As climbing vine plants in the Cucurbitaceae family, cucumber (Cucumis sativus) produces edible, mostly cylindrical fruits known as cucumbers (Cucumis).
Cucumbers and okra both need the same condition to grow. So, they do well side by side. Do not plant them close. Plant cucumber at least six inches apart from okra as cucumbers also need full sun to get a rip. Know what are the best and worst companion plants for cucumbers.
Peppers plants are useful to prevent cabbage wear that is destructive to okra. Plant peppers next to okra if you suffer from cabbage worn. Know best and worst companion plants for peppers.
Seeds should be started around six to eight weeks before you want to put the pepper plants in the garden. During the months of late April and early May in Santa Clara County, when the soil has been warmed and the daily temperatures are consistently over 75 degrees Fahrenheit, peppers do their best. When the temperature drops below the range of 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, the blooms and fruits are unable to develop or are deformed.
You can plant okra with tomatoes. Tomatoes and okra have the same growing requirement. Tomatoes act as a trap plant and keep pests far away from okra.
Harvesting tomatoes may take anywhere from 60 days to over 100 days, depending on the cultivar. Most gardeners prefer to use tiny “starter plants” or transplants rather than seeds because of their extensive growth season needs and late spring planting date.
Melon is one of the various Cucurbitaceae plants that provide delicious, fleshy fruits that may be eaten. Both the plant and the fruit of the melon may be referred to as “melon”. Specifically, a “pepo” is what a melon is botanically speaking.
Melons can be a good companion to grow along with okra. Just like cucumbers, melons also need ample sun and water. Make sure that okra does not shade melons. For this plant melon on the east side, so that plants get benefit by morning sun or plant west for afternoon sun.
Mint is a family of herbs that includes basil. It enhances the taste of food and contains elements that may be beneficial to health. Ocimum basilicum (Sweet basil) is a common ingredient in Mediterranean and Italian cuisines. In addition to pesto, it may be used to flavor salads, pasta, and pizza meals.
Planting basil near okra is beneficial to repel pests. Basil’s strong fragrance deters many varieties of pests like stink bugs, flea beetles, aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. As the okra grows taller in height by six feet, it gives shade to tender perennials, especially in the hot summer season. if you’re interested in growing herbs, read out 10 perennial herbs that you can grow easily indoors.
Brassicaceae is a vegetable family which includes radish. It is edible root vegetables that have been cultivated from prehistoric times in Asia. Radishes are widely cultivated and eaten as a crisp salad vegetable with a strong taste all over the globe.
Plant radish throughout your okra row, it helps to break soil so that the okra plant’s roots get deeper in the soil. Due to deep roots, okra plants grow taller and give shade to radish. Plant radish and okra four to five inches apart for good air circulation.
Asteraceae, the family which includes lettuce, is an annual family of plants. It is usually cultivated for its leaves, although it may also be used for its seeds and stems. In addition to salads, lettuce may be found in soups, wraps, and sandwiches and it can even be grilled.
Planting lettuce and okra side by side will benefit both. Plant lettuce at the base of the okra to weed out, where okra provides shade to lettuce.
Related Post: 10 Easiest Vegetables To Grow In The Garden
Peas are seed-pod fruit that has spherical in shape. Green or yellow peas might be found in each pod. Peapods are classified as fruits by botanists since they have seeds and emerge from a flower’s ovary.
Growing peas in the same bed of okra will help to fix nitrogen in the soil. Plant okra in the same soil where peas were planted, after the completion of its season. This will give okra extra nitrogen in the soil that yields a better harvest. Learn how to grow sweet pea, from our growing and caring guide.
Flower Companion Plants For Okra
Okra companion with a flowering plant is a good idea. Flowering plants deter many from attracting beneficial insects and pollinators that will visit okra flowers. To make a garden beautiful here are the 20 best flower plants that you can grow easily.
Garlic, Chives, and Onion
A member of the allium family, they have edible blooms and are perennial. In addition, they’re a great companion plant that deters pests from your garden. Garden chives are easy to cultivate.
Plant these cold-tolerant perennials alliums during early spring to mid-spring. This will lead to an early summer harvest.
These herbs may quickly take over your garden if you don’t keep an eye on them while planting them (the flowers spread the seeds in the ground). However, if this plant spreads to other areas of your garden, it is simple to remove and relocate.
These pest-repelling alliums make excellent garden companions. Plant them with carrots, celery, okra, and lettuce as well as peas and tomatoes.
Nasturtiums should be planted in pots or as ground cover near vegetable gardens. These beautiful plants look beautiful with their peculiar greens and brilliant blossoms. Using them as a trap crop to keep aphids and other plant pests far from the more important crops is a common practice.
Beans, broccoli, okra, cabbage, melon, kale, cucumber, pumpkin, and radish are all friends of the nasturtium.
However, nasturtiums aren’t only a magnet for pests. Pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies love them, and their lovely scent makes them a terrific option for cut-flower arrangements, too.
There are certain regions where nasturtiums may be grown as perennials, but they are usually planted as annuals in the rest of the country.
Nasturtium is a great companion plant for okra. It deters aphids and many different beetles that can destroy your crop.
The marigold is hands-down the most cheerful and easiest-to-grow annual on the market. Annual gold, brass, and copper squanderers, these blooms fill our gardens in the summer and fall with a dazzling array of metals.
The popularity of the flower is likely due in part to its propensity to bloom continuously throughout the summer. To keep the flowers blooming, take care to remove the deadheads.
You can plant Marigold with okra as a companion plant. The flower acts like a bait that attracts pests to feed them instead of primary crops like okra. Once the pests attract the marigold, snatch it out from the ground and destroy It. If you want to learn how to grow a marigold check our article.
Bad Companion Plants For Okra
Most gardeners think having more nematodes in the soil is beneficial for gardening. But, meta nodes are detrimental to okra because these tiny insects like to feed on the roots of okra plants.
However, nematodes in the soil help to grow certain vine plants like sweet potatoes and squash. You should skip at least one year before planting okra in the same garden bed where nightshade vegetables have been grown except Melons and Cucumbers.
Other than this okra does not have any bad companions. Plant one of the recommended plants in this post. It will help to grow okra plants.
Essential Oil To Apply On Okra
Sometimes companion plants aren’t quite enough to support okra. Maybe you are growing in a small garden or even a container garden. Or maybe some best companions don’t grow well in the area.
Whatever the reason you can replace companion plants with some oil that will help in the garden.
Here are some essential oils to grow more okra plants.
Rosemary is a great companion but also a perennial herb that is not suitable in a vegetable garden. This essential oil is used to repel pests like aphids and flea beetles.
Just like the basil plant, basil essential oil is also a great companion to okra. Apply this to the okra plant to prevent pests like aphids and many worms that might munch on your plant.
Mint is a repel pest, unfortunately, mint is self-seeds and can take over the garden. Use peppermint oil instead of your okra to prevent pests like aphids.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is a great anti-fungal. Use it to prevent diseases such as powdery mildew from okra. Learn how to get rid of powdery mildew
Why plant okra as a companion?
Okra’s thick stems provide a windbreak for more delicate plants, like peppers, which benefit from the extra protection. While okra may compete with shallow-rooted lettuce for nutrients, the okra plants help shield lettuces from the warm summer sun by giving some shade.
This makes it an ideal partner for lettuces. Okra flourishes in hot climates, so you can grow okra as a shade plant for greens that perform best in partial light. (like kale and herbs including parsley, cilantro, chives, and tarragon).
Planting some early cool-weather crops, like peas, is also a smart option. You won’t have to worry about the larger okra plants overwhelming the smaller pea plants since your peas would be ready to harvest before they become too big. Cut the pea plants after the final harvest to provide room for the okra to grow when the weather warms up.
What is the best fertilizer for okra?
Fertilize okra with 3 to 6 pounds of calcium nitrate per 1000 square feet. Sprinkle one to two pounds per 100 feet of row. For best yield fertilize okra 3 to 4 weeks after planting and again after 6 to 8 weeks, when they get established.
How far apart should okra plants be?
When you can grow okra from seeds plant each seed half-inch deeper in the soil and 2 to 4 inches apart. When planting okra cutting or a companion plant, place them at least 12 inches apart. Planting them too closely will cause fungal disease or improper crops.
Does okra need full sun?
Okra seeds take nearly a couple of weeks to germinate. For good and fast growth use rich well-drained soil. Okra needs full, hot sun and is usually cultivated in the summer.
How often should Okra be watered?
Water to keep the soil moist, Okra does not like to be overwatered. Water when the soil upper layer looks dry. (it needs 1 inch of water per week).
How much okra does a plant produce?
Okra plants, when given ideal conditions, produce 20 to 30 pods per okra plant.
Why is my okra not blooming?
There are several reasons why okra is not blooming. You might have used excessive fertilizer. Okra needs nitrogen for fertilizer growth but too much will harm them.
Did I Miss Anything?
Now I’d like to hear from you: which companion plant from today’s post are you going to try first? Or maybe, I didn’t mention your favorite plant. Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.
Before going if you want to grow beautiful flowers in your garden? Then click on these articles also.