The Fail-Safe Method To Grow Okra In A Super Hot Environment

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a staple in many warm climates, with this delicious sun-loving vegetable plant handling the summer heat well. However, many gardeners have faced disappointment when growing it in their yard. If you are harvesting scraggly, long, and small okra year after year when living in a super-hot environment, there are a few simple things you can do to help it thrive. See, these plants do love the warmth, but it takes more than just sowing them in the summer months and hoping things work out. To produce the best okra crops, you need to consider how to maintain an ideal environment for them. Thankfully, it is not as complicated as it sounds. All you need to do is a little bit of prep and general maintenance. 

One reason okra plants struggle in hot locations is the lack of moisture. This is because okra grows best when the soil is kept moist. However, this isn't always easy when you are battling with the fierce summer heat. Even daily watering can sometimes feel like it's not enough, as the sun can evaporate the water before it even gets a chance to soak into the soil. Thankfully, there is a fail-safe method you can try out to fix soil moisture retention and grow healthy okra plants. 

Keeping your okra plants moist in the heat starts before you have even planted them. Okra plants have long taproots that grow vertically into the soil. Lateral roots branch off from the main one in search of water, seeking out relief among the dark, dry earth. This means that you need to give your soil some TLC — and not just the top layer. Dig around 15 inches into your soil, working it over to break it up and aerate it. Then, mix in compost and fertilizer, using a balanced, slow-release feed. 

Once you have planted your okra, you need to do what you can to maintain moisture so it thrives in the heat. A great way of doing this is through mulching. You can apply mulch to your okra plants once they have established themselves, mulching to a depth of 3 inches. The mulch will mean that there is less water being lost to evaporation. It will also keep the roots under the soil at a constant, stable temperature. By watering regularly and checking the soil for moisture, you can grow tasty okra in the garden no matter how warm your summer gets.