Market Farming

[Willie McKemie <mf AT austinfarm.org>]

On Tue, Aug 08, 2006 at 07:46:05AM -0500, David Tannen wrote:
> I had terrible infestations of Japanese beetles last year and the year 
> before.  Hardly see any of them this year.  All the older farmers told me 
> that nothing bothers okra, so I was surprised they were eating my okra last 
> year.  Fortunately, they did little damage to the okra as they much 
> preferred my beans.  I hope you find the the same to be true for your okra.

I have only very minor problems with bugs on okra.  A few aphids and I 
guess stink bugs sting and cause deformation.  Not enough to consider 
spraying.

> 
> However, I did have an unusual experience with my saved okra seed.  None of 
> it germinated!  I let the pods dry on the plants, chopped down the plants 
> and stored the entire plants in the shed.  In the spring I removed the 
> seeds 
> from the pods, planted and irrigated.  I also planted and irrigated two 
> rows 
> of seed purchased from the feed store.  The store bought seed germinated, 
> but not a single plant came up from the saved seed.  Not one!  I replanted 
> store bought seed and it germinted normally.  I didn't think anymore about 
> it until I had a conversation with a gentleman at the local barber shop. 
> His neighbor had the exact same experience.

I don't save seed on purpose, but I do get quite a few volunteers for 
years after a patch is used for okra.  So, I doubt that there would be 
germination trouble if I did save the seed.  I have had problems with 
poor germination on several year old store-bought okra seed.

Did I mention that this year I am trying okra as shade for peppers?  
Alternate approximately north-south rows of okra and peppers.  5' 
center to center beds.  So far, it seems to be working well.  The 
peppers are getting only a few hours of sun that is near directly 
overhead; most sun-scald damage seems to come from about 45 deg light 
that would come mid-morning and mid-afternoon.  I do have far more 
okra than I can sell, however.  It takes about 1 1/2 man-days to pick 
it every day.  As I try and fail to sell it, I have to keep telling 
myself: "I'm growing it for the shade.  I'm growing it for the shade."

Willie