Okra is a warm-season vegetable plant you can grow in your garden. It’s popular in most vegetable gardens because the plant doesn’t need much to thrive, and the veggies okra produces are very healthy and tasty.
The first thing you need to know is that okra can get very tall, and when a plant gets tall it will usually require support. That said, does okra need a trellis?
Do Okra Plants Need a Cage?
Despite their size and growing space needs, okra plants do not require support, such as a trellis or staking. However, okra does have a tendency to grow heavy at the top, especially when it’s healthy and full of ripe vegetables.
It’s worth noting that okra can grow up to eight feet in height (or 96 inches), which makes picking the vegetable difficult without the use of a ladder. Also, if your vegetable garden or yard gets strong wind, then putting up a trellis is a must.
In general, okra plants produce a thick trunk that can hold the stems, leaves and flowers as long as it gets full sun and a warm spot in your yard. Furthermore, you can trim the top part of the plant to make it spread out and produce side shoots at the bottom and middle sections.
How to Grow Okra on a Trellis
When planting okra you’ll need a significant area in your yard or garden for it. The recommended space is around 3 feet wide (or 36 inches), and vertical space of at least 6 feet (or 72 inches).
Okra loves a warm environment. The vegetable plant can thrive in the heat of the summer and produce nearly endless vegetables you can use in various dishes. As for sunlight requirements, you should plant okra seeds where they can get full sun. The more direct sun it gets the faster it grows and the more abundant your harvest.
The warm season vegetable is not too particular about soil, but it grows best in a medium that’s rich in organic matter. Opt for well-drained and loose soil that has compost or worm castings so your okra won’t be sitting on too much water.
It’s worth noting that okra is not a climbing plant, nor is it a vine. However, it’s a plant that might require support because the top tends to get heavy or tall that they collapse under their own weight. The only time you might need to install a trellis is when the vegetable reaches around 5 feet tall. You can start out early and when the okra is around three to four feet so it will have something to lean on as the plant gets bigger.
Reasons to Grow Okra on a Trellis
Keeps Them From Falling Over
The best time to put up a trellis on your okra plants is when they’ve reached a significant height of around three to four feet and show no signs of slowing down. Upon maturity, these plants tend to sag under the weight of their produce. You can encourage them to grow out and become bushier with support and proper pruning.
Produce an Upright Growing Habit
A tall and straight plant is better to look at compared to a bent or curved one. Also, for vegetable crops, you tend to have an easier time harvesting when the vegetables are more visible. For aesthetic and convenience it’s best that you keep your okra plants straight.
Fewer Pests and Diseases
A neater vegetable garden setup invites fewer pests and diseases. Although the okra plant is hardy in its own right, you can worry less if you have them supported vertically using a trellis. All growers want a healthy vegetable patch, and you can keep it this way by providing support when your okra needs it.
A Tidier Garden
Tidiness might be further down the list when it comes to growing vegetables in your yard or garden, but it does present a number of benefits, both aesthetic and production-wise. When you hold your okra in their own space you’ll be able to grow more or introduce companion plants in as well. You can even color it up with some flowering varieties and invite people to take a closer look at your patch.